State won't stand in way of Chumash Tribe's casino expansion


This artist's rendering shows the hotel tower at the Chumash Casino Resort. Image from Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is moving forward with a $160 million casino expansion and the state of California says there's nothing stopping the tribe.

The tribe finalized an environmental evaluation for the expansion at the Chumash Casino Resort even though the state asked for a more thorough analysis. But the office of California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) said it won't object to the project.


This artist's rendering shows the pool deck at the Chumash Casino Resort. Image from Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

“We are not aware of any actions by the tribe that constitute a breach of their compact obligations," Brown's office told The Santa Barbara Independent. "As long as the tribe is complying with the terms of the compact it signed with the state in 1999, there is nothing from the state perspective that would delay its project."

The tribe will be adding a hotel tower with 215 rooms to the casino. There will also be 75,000 additional square-feet of gaming space, a 20,000 square-foot pool deck, new food and beverage venues and a parking garage with 584 spaces.

As part of the project, the tribe will be renovating 150,000 square-feet of existing space at the facility. Construction will begin next month is expected to be complete sometime in 2016.

Get the Story:
12-Story Hotel by 2016? (The Santa Barbara Independent 9/24)
Chumash Resort ready to start construction on 12 story hotel, casino expansion (KCBX 9/24)

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Chumash Tribe to break ground on casino expansion in October (9/24)

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