We may now know which projects will be included in the proposed May bond election for the Amarillo Civic Center Complex.
The City of Amarillo Civic Center subcommittee recently announced its recommendations for a proposed bond election, giving clarity to which projects will be included in the bond election that is expected to be called for May. In the recommendation package, committee members told the city council that among the projects needed to “address the considerable deficiencies with the Civic Center and provide the City of Amarillo with a stronger downtown economic engine” is the creation of a 10,100-seat arena, the building of 75,600 square feet of exhibit space, new areas for pre-convention gatherings, the building of a commercial kitchen, and renovation of the Santa Fe Depot, which is currently located inside a fenced property two blocks from the civic center.
In the letter released to local media, committee members also encouraged citizens to vote for the bond proposal in May.
“If a bond election is proposed, we, as a committee, enthusiastically encourage the majority of voters to join with us in a ‘yes’ vote for the future welfare of our citizens and Amarillo,” the committee wrote in the letter.
Currently, the amount of the proposed bonds stands at $279 million—funds which will be paid for by property taxpayers, if passed.