|
Casino
scores for economic heft, diplomacy
As reported by The Sacramento Business Journal
 Thunder
Valley Casino might be seen as controversial by some. But
there are compelling arguments for its being seen as the most
important private-sector building completed in south Placer
County this year.
High among
those impacts is the hiring of 2,200 employees at a time when
regional job growth is on the decline. With a payroll of $40
million a year, the workers could have considerable impact on
the local economy. The workers, by the way, get $6 million worth
of health and other benefits, and most of them are full-timers,
said Scott Garawitz, project manager for the casino owned by
the United Auburn Indian Community.
Judges said
the casino's economic impact was the main reason for giving
it top honors.
"Whether
you agree with the idea of a casino or not, it does something
for the community that's never been done," said Robert
Earl, president of Sundt Construction Inc. Northern California,
who was one of the judges. "It's a large employer, and
the employment is different, bringing diversity to the economy.
And it brings a huge amount of people into the area who can
benefit local retail."
Agreeing
was another judge, Lynn Pomeroy, president of LPA Sacramento
Inc., an architectural firm. The casino, he said, is a major
employer and an important destination attraction for south Placer
County that will most likely benefit surrounding businesses.
More than
1,000 construction workers were hired to build the massive casino,
which cost $215 million -- another boost for the economy.
Of course,
it remains to be seen whether the casino's contributions will
offset any negative impact it may have on the community. But
the tribe certainly has made a substantial effort at doing so.
Another,
much smaller, reason for recognizing the project is that it
is unique. "Architecturally it's a casino. But we don't
have anything like it in Sacramento," Earl pointed out.
Architect
Pomeroy said that the designers did a very good job of breaking
up the surface of the exterior so that the huge, 210,000-square-foot
building does not look like a monolithic warehouse.
|
Niagara
Falls, N.Y. -- The chart shows a hotel and a giant
entertainment center springing up on the 52 acres around
St. Mary's of the Cataract Church. The buildings are part
of the