Last week, the City of Amarillo hosted the first of four public forums on the proposed $319 million renovation of the downtown Civic Center.
The proposal, unveiled earlier this month, would double the capacity of the current Civic Center. It would also expand the exhibit hall and ballroom, while upgrading to full-service kitchens, modern concessions.
Under the proposal, City Hall would have to be relocated and the Santa Fe Depot would also be renovated.
As The Amarillo Globe News reports, the project would be funded by a 15.1 cents increase on property taxes, which would amount to about $13 a month for a $100,000 home.
After the first public forum, the main point of contention among Amarilloans appears to be the size of the arena. Some think it is too small, while others think it’s too big.