Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Terminates Contract with General Contractor on Expansion Project at Cache Creek Casino Resort
January 10, 2020
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation announced today that it is terminating its contract with general contractor Swinerton in association with the resort expansion project at Cache Creek Casino Resort. Construction on the project began in May 2017, and was originally scheduled to be completed in March 2019."This decision was reached following considerable contemplation and more than one year of good-faith attempts to get the project completed," said Anthony Roberts, Tribal Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. "We are disappointed. This is not the outcome we expected, but we are fully committed to delivering a world class product to guests of our casino resort."
The resort expansion project includes 459 new rooms and suites, a multi-purpose event center, resort pool complex and additional world-class restaurants.
Kari Stout-Smith, Cache Creek's General Manager/COO, cited non-performance, poor quality control and multiple missed milestones as some of the reasons for termination.
"Significant efforts were made, including hiring an independent scheduling expert to ensure the project was delivered on-time and in accordance with the parties' contract. Despite ongoing efforts, it was determined the agreed-upon standards of quality would not be met. Ultimately, and only after an unsuccessful attempt to develop a constructive path forward with the current general contractor and multiple missed deadlines, the decision to terminate was reached," Stout-Smith said. "We have assessed the current state of the project and hired the necessary resources to complete the expansion, with a focus on the high quality that we and our guests expect."
Hill International, Inc., a global firm that provides project/construction management and owner representation services, is the new project partner. Some of Hill's prior casino-resort project consultation includes Wynn Encore and The Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, and Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Washington.
Stout-Smith also indicated an appreciation for many of the project's current subcontractors and workers for their persistence during the extenuating circumstances. Cache Creek will be meeting with the subcontractors individually with respect to working through the project's completion.
No specific new date for completion has yet been determined, though officials expect to open the expanded area to the public in 2020.