Storyline · 5 events · Sep 13, 2022 – about Oct 2026
City purchase and resale of 501-517 S. Grant Street (2022-2026)
On September 13, 2022 the Amarillo City Council voted 4-1 to buy buildings and land at 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant Street in downtown Amarillo for $1,300,000 plus closing costs, funded from excess hotel occupancy tax collections and excess general fund cash. ABC 7 reported that the plan was for the Civic Center to use the property for storage and that it had been appraised at $1.1 million in April 2022. The City completed the purchase in December 2022. On June 11, 2024 the council voted 5-0 to sell the property to JM Conkling, LLC for $1,300,000, with closing set for on or before July 14, 2024. In an October 2025 agenda memo the City described 517 South Grant as City-owned property that had received weed violation notices, and added it to a landscape maintenance contract.
A storyline groups dated events in order. It is a chronology, not an argument; it does not say why anything happened. All storylines
· Origin
Council votes 4-1 to buy 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant Street for $1.3 million
The council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract to buy multiple buildings and land at 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant Street for $1,300,000 plus closing costs and related expenses. Mayor Ginger Nelson, Mayor Pro Tem Freda Powell and Councilmembers Eddy Sauer and Howard Smith voted yes; Councilmember Cole Stanley voted no. The agenda memo listed the council priority as Economic Development/Redevelopment and the funding as excess hotel occupancy tax collections and excess general fund cash. Assistant City Manager Andrew Freeman presented the item.[1][2][3]
Ginger NelsonFreda PowellEddy SauerHoward SmithCole StanleyAndrew Freeman
- ✓ Verified
On September 13, 2022 the council voted 4-1 to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract and other necessary documents to buy multiple buildings and land at 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant Street for $1,300,000.00 plus closing costs and related expenses. Nelson, Powell, Sauer and Smith voted yes; Stanley voted no. Powell made the motion and Sauer seconded it. [1][2]
- Price
- $1,300,000
- ✓ Verified
The attached Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated September 6, 2022, set the purchase price at $1,300,000.00, required no earnest money, gave the City an inspection and termination period through September 30, 2022, and set closing for on or before September 30, 2022. The seller was a trust that owned the property. The property is three groups of lots in Block 352 of the Mirror Addition, each with the adjoining 11 feet of vacated Grant Street right-of-way. [2]
- Price
- $1,300,000
- ✓ Verified
The agenda memo said funding for the purchase "will come from excess Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections and Excess General Fund Cash." It listed the council priority as "Economic Development/ Redevelopment" and the contact as Andrew Freeman, Assistant City Manager. [2]
- ✓ Verified
The property was appraised at $1.1 million in April 2022, $200,000 below the $1.3 million purchase price. The City's 2024 memo dates the appraisal April 21, 2022; ABC 7 reported that Andrew Freeman, who recommended the purchase, said it had been appraised at $1.1M in April 2022. [4][3]
- Appraisal
- $1,100,000
- Price
- $1,300,000
- Difference
- $200,000
- ✓ Verified
Councilmember Cole Stanley: ABC 7 reported that Stanley, who voted no, said in 2022: "Why are you guys for this at such a premium? $1.3M is premium for that building." [3]
- ✓ Verified
Mayor Ginger Nelson: ABC 7 reported that Mayor Ginger Nelson disagreed that the City was overpaying, saying "We are paying the asking price" and "I think it is important for us to control land that is next to other land that the city is developing and has a use for." [3]
- ✓ Verified
Councilmember Cole Stanley: ABC 7 reported that the City was one of two interested buyers in 2022, and that Stanley said JM Conkling, LLC had wanted to offer the same amount as the City. [3]
- ✓ Verified
Three residents addressed the council on the item during public address; the minutes record one as speaking against it and do not record the position of the other two. [1]
· Context
City completes the purchase of the Grant Street property
A 2024 City agenda memo and ABC 7 both state that the City bought the property in December 2022 for $1.3 million. The September 6, 2022 purchase agreement had set closing for on or before September 30, 2022.[4][3][2]
- ✓ Verified
The City's June 2024 agenda memo and ABC 7 both state the City purchased the property in December 2022 for $1.3 million. The September 6, 2022 purchase agreement had set closing for on or before September 30, 2022, and allowed the parties to agree to extend it; no source found gives the exact closing date. [4][3][2]
- Price
- $1,300,000
· Peak
Council votes 5-0 to sell the Grant Street property to JM Conkling, LLC for $1.3 million
The council voted 5-0 to authorize the Interim City Manager to sell the buildings and land at 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant Street to JM Conkling, LLC for $1,300,000 plus closing costs and related expenses, the same price the City paid. The memo cited the property's location in the Center City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1 as the basis for selling without notice and bidding, said the price was not below fair market value based on an April 21, 2022 appraisal, listed the buyer's proposed uses, and said sale proceeds would go to the general fund. Deputy City Manager Andrew Freeman presented the item.[5][4][3]
Cole StanleyJosh CraftDon TippsTom ScherlenLes SimpsonAndrew FreemanJM Conkling, LLC
- ✓ Verified
On June 11, 2024 the council voted 5-0 on a "Motion to sell the property at 509 S. Grant, 517 S. Grant and 501 S. Grant as stated in the agenda for $1.3 mm," made by Tom Scherlen and seconded by Josh Craft. Cole Stanley, Josh Craft, Don Tipps, Tom Scherlen and Les Simpson voted yes. [5]
- Price
- $1,300,000
- ✓ Verified
The contract for sale named the City as seller and JM Conkling, a Texas limited liability company, as buyer, at a purchase price of $1,300,000.00, with $5,000.00 in escrow funds due within five days of execution and closing "on or before July 14, 2024." The memo said funds received from the sale would be allocated to the general fund. [4]
- Price
- $1,300,000
- Escrow
- $5,000
- ✓ Verified
The memo said the sale fell under the exception to notice and bidding requirements in Local Government Code Sec. 272.001(b)(6) for municipal land in a reinvestment zone that the City wants developed under the zone's project plan, because the property is within the Center City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number One. It said the property was not being sold for less than fair market value based on an appraisal completed April 21, 2022. [4]
· Context
City adds City-owned 517 South Grant to its landscape maintenance contract
On the consent agenda, approved 5-0, the council approved Change Order No. 3 to the Reeder Landscape maintenance contract adding three properties, including 500 South Grant and 517 South Grant. The memo said the properties "are owned by the City of Amarillo," had not been consistently maintained, and had recently received weed violation notices from the City Marshal's Office. The memo does not mention 501 or 509 S. Grant or the 2024 sale contract.[6][7]
- ✓ Verified
An October 28, 2025 agenda memo added 500 South Grant, 517 South Grant and 1000 Martin Road Addition to the Reeder Landscape maintenance contract, stating: "Although the properties are owned by the City of Amarillo, they have not been consistently maintained and have recently received weed violation notices from the City Marshal's Office." Change Order No. 3 added $8,348.28 a year for the three properties, bringing the contract's not-to-exceed amount to $5,056,423.92 over six years. [6]
- Change order annual
- $8,348
- Contract not to exceed
- $5,056,424
- ✓ Verified
The council approved the consent agenda, less items 8.G and 8.O, by a 5-0 vote on October 28, 2025; the landscape change order was consent item 8.Q. [7]
· Context
Commercial listing advertises 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant for sale at $1,425,000
A commercial real estate listing, updated October 8, 2026, advertises 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant as a mixed-use office/warehouse property for sale at $1,425,000, stating the buildings were built in 1924 and renovated in 2024. The listing does not name the owner.[8]
- ✓ Verified
A CommercialCafe listing, updated October 8, 2026, advertises 501, 509 and 517 S. Grant for sale at $1,425,000: 42,096 square feet above ground plus a basement of about 28,000 square feet on 1.05 acres, built in 1924 and renovated in 2024, with 517 S. Grant described as a fenced lot. The listing does not name the owner, and no source found ties it to the City or to JM Conkling, LLC. [8]
- Asking price
- $1,425,000
Related storylines: Financing the Amarillo Civic Center expansion and renovation (2016-2026)Downtown TIRZ #1 and Local Government Corporation financing (2006-2026)Moving Amarillo City Hall into the renovated Amarillo Hardware building (2016-2025)