Sharpened Iron Studios is pushing back against Amarillo College’s decision to terminate its lease for a downtown campus facility, calling the move a breach of contract and accusing the college of distorting the facts behind the failed partnership.
The response follows a June 24 vote by the Amarillo College Board of Regents to end the studio’s 50-year lease for the property at 1314 S. Polk St. Regents cited repeated delays, unmet construction deadlines and a failure to meet key performance terms under the lease.
In a statement released Friday, Sharpened Iron founder and president Sean Doherty said the company was not directly notified of the vote and instead learned of the decision through media reports. He called the process a breakdown in communication and trust, and accused the college of shifting blame for complications that he said were partly caused by the institution itself.
“This is not just a breach of process — it’s a breach of trust,” Doherty said.
The lease, originally signed in 2020 and amended in 2023, required Sharpened Iron to invest at least $8 million into renovating two buildings and constructing a new soundstage. All work was expected to be completed by May 31, 2025. According to college officials, those conditions were not met, and a clause converting the lease to a month-to-month agreement was triggered.
Regents voiced disappointment over the breakdown of the partnership, which had once been viewed as a catalyst for downtown revitalization and a launchpad for a regional film education program. They said the college offered flexibility and time extensions over the past two years, but substantial progress never materialized.
Sharpened Iron disputes that assessment. The studio says it has invested $3.5 million in facility improvements and production equipment, including a 3,000-square-foot soundstage, an editing suite and a full complement of camera, grip and electric gear. The company said it has supported more than 120 film-related projects and provided Amarillo College students access to resources and hands-on opportunities.
Doherty also pointed to unresolved asbestos and infrastructure issues on the property — responsibilities he said fell to the college — which caused delays and prevented the official lease performance clock from starting. He cited Section 4.01 (vii) of the lease as evidence that the studio was still within its rights.
Amarillo College leaders countered that while the studio hosted a few events and film projects, its core commitments — including internship opportunities and curriculum development — never took root. Regents also noted that the scope of construction had been scaled back from initial proposals, and key educational goals remained unmet.
While Doherty said students were prioritized in the studio’s activities, regents said no formal student placements were made, and the anticipated training pipeline into film careers never emerged.
Despite the breakdown, Sharpened Iron emphasized its continued commitment to the local film industry and highlighted its role in advocating for Senate Bill 22, which expanded Texas’ film production incentive program. Doherty said the studio intends to remain active in Amarillo and has retained legal counsel to respond to the lease dispute.
“Sharpened Iron Studios is not going anywhere,” the statement read. “We remain active, engaged, and committed to our mission.”
The future of the property at 1314 S. Polk St., located near the college’s Innovation Outpost, remains uncertain following the lease termination. College officials said they are considering how the space might be used going forward, with an emphasis on potential projects that could benefit students or the broader community.
An economic impact study commissioned by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation had projected the studio would generate $225 million in regional impact and create nearly 1,300 jobs. With the lease now terminated, the long-term outcome of that economic promise remains unclear.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Sharpened Iron disputes Amarillo College lease termination, calls it a breach of contract
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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