A former auto dealership in Ukiah, Northern California that had been the planned site for a casino for the Pinoleville Pomo Nation is now on the market.
The tribe did not respond last week to press inquiries by the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat about the “for sale” sign on the 8.8 acres, which for five years the tribe has held an option on. That option has expired.
In 2009 the tribe announced its plans for a 90,000 square foot $50 million casino and 72,000 SF hotel on the property, which is close to Highway 101.
The tribe has a tribal state gaming compact that would allow it to operate as many as 900 slot machines. The compact, which took effect in 2012, was the second the tribe had to negotiate with the state. The Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the first for paying the state a too high percentage of gaming profits.
The property has three structures, totaling 27,000 square feet. Its sale price is listed at $3.2 million.
The area has several casinos, including one in Redwood Valley and one in Hopland. River Rock Casino near Geyserville and Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park, the largest casino in Northern California, are also in the vicinity.
The proximity of so much competition may have had something to do with the tribe’s reported inability to obtain investors. Nevertheless, there had been progress in recent years. In 2013 the tribe and Mendocino County signed a memorandum of understanding for government services and the National Indian Gaming Commission had approved of the site for a casino.
Recently the tribe suffered a further setback when its commercial medical marijuana operation on the property was raided by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s office, who said it violated state and county regulations.
The tribe has threatened litigation, saying it was operating legally. It has also been the subject of several news articles about a split within the tribe over the disenrollment of many tribal members.
