by Karen Smith Welch

 

AMARILLO -- Amarillo will ring in 2011 with the opening of the first downtown development project on track to secure property tax rebates from the Center City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.

The Courtyard by Marriott at the Historic Fisk will begin taking reservations through the Marriott reservation system for rooms booked for Monday night and beyond, sales director Donna Paraliticci said.

The complications of adapting the historic 1927 office building at 724 S. Polk St. for its new use as a 107-room hotel for business travelers caused Irving developer Newcrest Hotels Ltd. to push back the planned opening from an original November date. A grand opening celebration will come later, according to information from Robert DeShay of Newcrest. (full story)