As the City of Cathedral City and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians celebrated the Groundbreaking of the New Downtown Casino in Cathedral City, Mayor Mark Carnevale announced to an enthusiastic crowd, “The years of empty dirt lots in Downtown Cathedral City are over!”
On Monday, November 4th, the entire City Council, former City Councilmembers as well as the Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Agua Caliente Casino – Cathedral City. This beautiful, new facility will serve as a major anchor at the eastern edge of the City’s Downtown Arts and Entertainment District. The City of Cathedral City could not be more appreciative to the Tribe for their continued commitment to Cathedral City residents and our inter-governmental relationship.
The Tribe plans to build a casino, restaurants, and future mixed-use retail to the 13 plus acres on the eastern edge of the Arts and Entertainment District is a major milestone in our City’s history. It was announced that the casino will be completed in about a year from now. They will be working six days a week, 3 shifts a day, until completed. Additionally, the Tribe will completely reconstruct Buddy Rogers Avenue with sidewalks, bike lanes, street lights and desert landscaping. They will add a new four-way traffic signal at the intersection of Buddy Rogers Avenue and Date Palm Drive and provide a turning lane into their property from Highway 111.
Their commitment to the roads and public safety for Cathedral City was shown in the Intergovernmental Agreement signed several months ago that provides approximately $6.5 million over ten years to help mitigate the impacts of a new gaming facility. Specifically, the City will receive $150,000 per year to help pay for increased public safety including police, fire, and ambulance service. It will also receive from the Tribe $500,000 annually for repairing, maintaining and reconstructing city streets.
Best of all, this project will spur the investments and expedite the building of restaurants, hotels and housing on the southside of Highway 111 as well.
Mayor Carnevale stated, “It is refreshing to know that our downtown will look and feel completely different in about two years. Residents will have so many new entertainment and food options than they currently have. Visitors will be wanting to stay in Cathedral City to enjoy gaming, LIVE performances, musical concerts, the latest blockbuster movie, and our incredible line-up of festivals and events.”
