In Riverside County,?California, initial site plans for a new gaming and entertainment development have been released by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Located at the corner of Date Palm Drive and Highway 111 in Cathedral City, the 125,000 square foot project includes 65,000 square feet allocated to the casino and 60,000 square feet to mixed-use retail shops, as reported by KMIR News.
Originally announced by the Tribe in April 2017, the gaming and entertainment development will reportedly be built on approximately 13 acres in Downtown Cathedral City and will include a casino with 500 slot machines, bars/restaurants, retail and mixed-use space and Tribal government offices.
The Tribe is reportedly well into the two-year federal process of obtaining the land entitled. Once the process is completed, the Tribe can start construction on the casino.
The gaming?facility will be the Tribe’s first off of its existing checkerboard-shaped reservation, which was reportedly allowed?under the compact negotiated by the?Agua Caliente with the state of California in 2016.
The Tribe already operate the?Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in?Rancho Mirage and?Spa Resort Casino?in Palm Springs. Under the gaming compact signed in Oct. 2016 by Gov. Jerry Brown, the tribe can operate as many as four additional facilities, limited to 500 machines each.
The development is reportedly one of four anchors for transforming Downtown Cathedral City into an entertainment destination for visitors and residents alike. Other anchors include a newly refurbished theatre, with new parking lot; a new Downtown Amphitheater and Park; and what will be named the Carol Channing Playhouse.
Other developers who are looking at adjacent downtown vacant lands to build mixed-use commercial spaces are already reportedly showing interest in the new entertainment anchors. Additional information will be forthcoming.