A municipal board has come out in support of a proposed $279 million bond election for May 2020 to renovate the Amarillo Civic Center.
Last week, the Amarillo Convention and Visitors Council Board voted to endorse a proposed renovation of the Amarillo Civic Center. The move by the municipal board is unprecedented, as most city-operated boards have stayed out of bond elections in past years.
Dan Quandt, Amarillo CVC senior vice president, was the one who urged the board to voice support for the project.
“My recommendation would be that you actually go on record, right now, supporting the expansion,” Quandt said, according to Amarillo Globe News. “You are the Convention and Visitor board. If you don’t want to do it, then you can’t expect others to.”
Amarillo City Councilwoman Elaine Hays, who serves as the city council’s representative on the board, abstained from voting.
The overall proposal for the Amarillo Civic Center renovation includes the creation of a downtown event venue, relocation of Amarillo City Hall, the building of an additional parking garage, expansion of the existing civic center, and the creation of a central park downtown, among other items. The full cost of the proposed project is $319 million, although the proposed bond is expected to be for the amount of $279 million.
This election will mark the second time Amarillo voters have cast ballots on a proposed bond to renovate the Amarillo Civic Center in four years. Voters most recently voted down a bond for a civic center expansion and renovation in November 2016.
Voters can provide feedback and learn more about the project here.
