Where the financial district meets up with the shopping and entertainment districts you will normally find the city square: in the heart of it all. It's no different in Amarillo, Texas. Downtown is where all the exciting developments are happening. Amarillo is a small city, mind you, so you won't find anything like the Parkdale Condos development in Toronto, but it does have a certain charm. You'll find attractions, dining, and accommodations in downtown Amarillo, so it's where you want to be if you want to be in the thick of it. Here's the lowdown on downtown Amarillo.
Up until a few years ago, downtown Amarillo was going through some hard times. This was true of the downtown areas of a lot of cities in the 1980s and 1990s because the popularity of suburban housing and cheaper mortgages available through initiatives like the Sutton members program had left the denser urban areas high and dry. Businesses left the downtown area and set up shop in suburban strip malls to follow their client base. It was a sad time for the downtowns of the Texas Panhandle in general and for downtown Amarillo in particular, which is why everyone is so glad it's over.
Renewed interest in historic architecture and downtown business has catapulted downtown Amarillo back to the top of the list of great places for investments. Initiatives like the Center City group have facilitated the revitalization of downtown Amarillo by helping to attract and match up investors and projects. There are now nearly 800 stores in downtown Amarillo employing approximately 10,000 people. These stores carry everything from wall words to local artwork and have greatly increased the popularity of living and working in downtown Amarillo. Office occupancy is now at 88% and there are about 2,500 people calling it home. All this has helped the crime rate to drop to only .7%.
Downtown Amarillo's biggest feature is the 31 storey Chase Tower. Many of the city's historic buildings are located also on Polk Street, some of which have been converted into museums that showcase Amarillo in the old days, and others which are private homes. These include the High Plains radio building, the Paramount Theater, and the Fisk medical arts building. Some of these buildings are in Spanish-influenced styles, others are in styles similar to what Ontario architects were using in the early 1900s.
Also helping to increase the exposure of downtown Amarillo to the world are the numerous festivals that take place in its streets and venues. The annual Polk Street Block Party is held in August and features live bands, a children's play area, food, street sales, and celebrity dunking. The event has sponsors from among major national businesses and attracts nearly 10,000 people, making it big enough to warrant a videographer. Toronto may have bigger festivals, but none as homey. Funds raised go to local programs like youth athletics, the boys and girls club, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. By contrast, the much smaller High Noon on the Square event happens every Wednesday during the summer. It features local entertainment ranging from equestrian to music and a 5$ lunch.
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