HUMANITARIAN EFFORTSEmployee Housing for Geronimo Nguyen Restaurant & Casino and Fort Bragg Project 🏠 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 🤝 |
The Geronimo Nguyen Restaurant & Casino and the planned Fort Bragg project prioritize humanitarian efforts through employee housing to address Mendocino's 6-8% rural unemployment and support Agency Tribal Nations' community programs (e.g., healthcare, education). By providing affordable, on-site, or nearby housing, these initiatives aim to attract and retain a stable workforce, reduce commuting barriers for tribal and local employees, and enhance economic self-sufficiency.
Provide affordable, accessible housing for 100 employees (e.g., 10 security guards, 17 dealers, 3 casino staff, plus additional hotel, restaurant, and support staff) to support workforce stability, prioritize tribal hiring, and address local unemployment.
Construct housing for 100 employees on or near the 3-acre casino site. Due to site constraints (0.75-acre gas station, leaving 2.25 acres), housing will be located on adjacent tribal land or within a 5-mile radius to minimize commuting.
Modular or compact apartment-style units (1–2 bedrooms, ~500–800 sq ft per unit) to accommodate single employees, couples, or small families.
Assume 1.5 employees per unit (shared housing/families), requiring ~67 units. At 800 sq ft per unit (including common areas), total footprint is ~53,600 sq ft (~1.23 acres).
Allocate $2M within the $45M budget for housing feasibility studies, site selection, and initial design (included in $9M for studies/assessments). Secure tribal approvals for land use.
Allocate $10M within the $50M budget for housing construction (modular units to reduce costs) and infrastructure (utilities, access roads).
Allocate $3M within the $55M budget for housing fit-out, landscaping, and employee move-in, ensuring readiness for Q3 2028 casino launch.
Prioritize housing for tribal employees (targeting 70% of hires, ~70 employees) to reduce unemployment and support economic self-sufficiency.
Fund community programs (healthcare, education) through casino revenue, enhanced by a stable workforce.
Reduce commuting, improving employee quality of life and local environmental impact.
Use modular construction for cost control; partner with tribal authorities; leverage existing casino infrastructure to reduce expenses.
Plan housing for 1,500 employees for a larger future tribal project in Fort Bragg (e.g., an expanded casino, resort, or mixed-use development), scaling up the casino's economic impact to further reduce unemployment and fund tribal initiatives.
Develop a large-scale housing community to support 1,500 employees, including casino staff (dealers, security, management), hospitality workers, and support roles.
Assume 1.5 employees per unit, requiring ~1,000 units. At average 800 sq ft per unit (including common areas), total footprint is ~800,000 sq ft (~18.4 acres).
Hypothetical Timeline, Assuming Start in 2028 Post-Casino Launch
Allocate ~$20M for feasibility studies, land acquisition, and master planning. Conduct environmental and tribal approvals.
Allocate ~$100M for housing construction (modular and traditional), infrastructure (roads, utilities), and initial landscaping.
Allocate ~$30M for fit-out, amenities, and employee move-in, aligning with the Fort Bragg project's operational start.
Employ 70–80% tribal members (~1,050–1,200 employees) to significantly reduce unemployment and generate sustainable revenue for tribal programs.
Support expanded healthcare, education, and cultural initiatives through housing stability and job creation.
Position Fort Bragg as a regional economic hub, attracting further investment and tourism.
Phase construction with project revenue; secure large tribal land parcels early; leverage casino success to attract investors.
$15M housing cost integrated into existing $150M casino budget:
Planned as separate $150M initiative:
Both housing plans prioritize:
Combined initiatives create: