Casino project still on track for opening in fall 2017
Despite a cold and snowy day this past Tuesday, crews were beginning to erect the structural steel for the first phase of the Spokane Tribe's STEP casino west of Airway Heights.
Old Man Winter has had his share of making life difficult for many in the region with doses of both bitter cold and significant dumps of snow.
But the Spokane Tribe of Indians seem to have danced around these potential roadblocks as they race to try to open the first phase of their Spokane Tribe Economic Project - STEP - on time this coming fall.
To passersby who drive along U.S. Highway 2, there might not seem to be much activity going on behind the line of construction equipment on the eventual 145-acre site, currently covered with fresh snow.
The fact that heavy equipment is sitting idle along the highway west of Airway Heights, "Is deceiving from the highway and Spoko Fuel," project spokesperson Jamie Sijohn said. The steel superstructure of the first buildings was being erected starting earlier this week.
"North of that heavy equipment they have been working in the trench area," Sijohn explained. That's where the footings for the eventual buildings beat the weather and are in place. "So there truly is work happening," Sijohn added of what is anticipated to be a $400 million project.
It is obvious that earth had been moved on the site, which had its official groundbreaking last Nov. 9. That was not long after the wettest October on record and prior to a winter that is already approaching seasonal norms for snow - and featured a January that was the coldest in some 30 years.
According to the STEP website, the project, being built in a number of phases, consists of a casino-resort facility, parking facilities, retail space, tribal cultural center, commercial space and a fire and police station. Phase one, consisting of about 30,000 – 40,000 square feet, includes a casino with approximately 450 gaming machines, 12 table games, plus food and beverage amenities.
"By looking at the videos (on the website), you'll definitely see some of the work that you are not seeing from the highway," Sijohn said.
A full build-out and operation will bring over 5,000 full time and construction jobs to the region the tribe said. Over 1,200 construction jobs with wages of approximately $65 million will be created over the phased build-out. Post-construction total annual payroll is estimated to top $66 million.
Sijohn also suggested anyone interested in employment should also visit the project website. There are a number of executive-level jobs posted on the website, which will also list upcoming job fairs and other news from STEP.
The project began in February 2006 when the Spokane Tribal Council filed the application for the project with the Secretary of the Interior. It would take nine more years before the effort would gain the approval of key governmental elements, including Interior, which gave its blessing in June 2015. The final hurdle was passed in July 2016 when Washington Gov. Jay Inslee gave his approval.
At last fall's groundbreaking, tribal chair Carol Evans said, "We would have hoped we would have started at least a month ago. It just took longer."
The Spokane Tribe has hired Swinerton Builders as the general contractor for Phase One construction. Swinerton is a 125-year-old company with offices located in Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Hawaii and Texas.
MORE INFO
For information on the STEP Project, visit http://www.stepspokane.com.
To learn more about the general contractor, please visit http://www.swinerton.com.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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