Tribe Plans High-Rise Hotel, Casino Near San Diego

SAN DIEGO —  The Jamul Indians say they plan to build a $100-million high-rise hotel and casino that would cover nearly five of their reservation’s six acres.

The tribe would move the homes of its 56 members onto an adjacent parcel of land to make way for the casino and eventually make that property part of an expanded reservation.

The casino plan is the fourth announced in the region since 11 local tribes signed gambling compacts with Gov. Gray Davis in September.

Opponents, calling themselves the Jamul Action Committee, say they are worried about traffic that would be created by the casino and contend that the project would threaten a nearby nature preserve.

Jamul tribal Chairman Kenneth Meza dismissed the criticism, saying the tribe needs the casino to fund its own housing, health care and services for youths and seniors.

The tribe also hopes to appease some of its critics by offering to build a $2-million fire and sheriff’s station and a $100,000 community park on the adjacent property.

The project is backed by a joint venture between Houston’s Kean-Argovitz Resorts, which operates two tribal casinos in Louisiana, and Lakes Gaming Inc., which developed two casinos in Minnesota.

The high-rise is expected to have 2,000 slot machines, an undetermined number of card tables and hotel rooms, and more than one restaurant. Construction is expected to begin within 12 months, Kean said. The reservation is about 20 miles east of San Diego.