The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California will be breaking ground this month on a $160 million casino expansion.
The tribe will be adding a 12-story hotel tower with 215 rooms to the Chumash Casino Resort. 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.
Local officials raised questions about the size and scope of the project.
Chairman Vincent Armenta, however, noted that the hotel tower is just as tall as some college dorms in the region.
He also said the facility uses less water now than it did 10 year ago. Concerns were addressed in an environmental evaluation for the project.
Get the Story:
Chumash push forward with casino expansion plans
(The Santa Maria Sun 10/2)
Chumash casino expansion to include 12-story hotel tower
(The Los Angeles Times 10/1)
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