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Controversial Chukchansi project underway

Tiffany Tuell

(Updated: Friday, August 27, 2010, 12:59 PM)

The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians' Tribal Council, tribe members and local community members came together for the blessing and groundbreaking of the $5 million, 25,000-square-foot Chukchansi Crossing development at the corner of Highway 41 and Lucky Lane in Coarsegold last Thursday.

"I'm just glad to see it going up," said Reggie Lewis, tribal council member. "It's good for the community and the tribe."

The center will have 15 gas and diesel pumps, a travel center, restaurants, a Native American smoke shop and other retail stores. Access to the station will be off Lucky Lane.

There has been controversy in the community on the center's economic impact on surrounding businesses, particularly local gas stations. Because the center is located on land owned by a sovereign nation, the fuel center will be exempt from sales tax and other taxes associated with the business, allowing gas to be offered much cheaper than at other local gas stations.

Lorin Brown, Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce president, has a positive outlook for the future of all local businesses. He said people voiced concerns over Chukchansi Resort and Casino being built, but it has now become a huge asset to the community.

"It's like anything else that's new... it does leave a lot of questions for the survival of the community but I'm sure it will end up being an asset to the community," Brown said. "There may have to be some changes by other businesses but this has been going on forever in our country and changes are good. We don't always understand them and know how to deal with them, but we have to learn to deal with them and find our niche and find how we all fit together and find how to support each other.

"As a chamber, we are willing to support all our members and will support all Chukchansi's endeavors and wish them success. We just need to learn to work with this new change and see how it can help us," Brown said.

Construction will begin immediately by Mighty Builders, a commercial construction company owned by the Chukchansi tribe. The estimated completion date is July 2011.

"I'm looking forward to achieving a great project and hope the community will benefit from it," said Don McGuire, deputy tribal building official.