City Mulls $300M Civic Center Overhaul

Officials with the city of Amarillo, TX unveiled a $300-million Civic Center renovation proposal that would upgrade the facility at 401 S. Buchanan St., which opened more than 50 years ago. The renovations call for convention center expansion, a new arena, a four-acre central plaza and additional parking.

Assistant City Manager Kevin Starbuck told the Amarillo Globe-News that the concept isn’t new, but has been under discussion for the past eight years. He told the newspaper that the proposal will be set before voters as a property tax supported bond issue, in hopes that it could be placed on the May 2020 election ballot. In the meantime, a series of public feedback forums are scheduled for each week in September.

Starbuck said that, while the current facility has served the city well over the past half-century, “there are certain realities we cannot address within the current structure.”

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Amy Sorter