CENTRAL CITY -- Throughout July 2025, the Central City Community Development Department oversaw the proposal of the Gregory Gulch Gaming Resort, developed by G3 Gaming, LLC as part of the city’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan.

Obermeier Sheykhet Architecture, on behalf of G3 Gaming CEO David Johnston, submitted an application for a preliminary planned unit development (PUD) of the 600-room, 1.8 million square foot hotel and casino on Thursday, July 10. The proposal was issued on Friday, July 11.

On Wednesday, July 23, principal architect-in-charge Aleksandr Sheykhet presented his proposal in the city’s council chambers to Central City’s Community Development Director Jeff Noffsinger.

Members of the public could attend in-person or virtually via Zoom. The meeting served as an introduction to the proposal, with Sheykhet discussing the project’s development and consultants team, process, and design overview. The main presentation concluded with questions from the public, and the meeting concluded with the public breaking into three groups to discuss design, logistics, and public opinion.

Skeykhet cited many reasons for the development’s importance for the community – an increase in tourism and job openings, improvement of the city’s streets network to optimize slope, safety, and capacity, use of traditional and natural materials, inspiration taken from the city’s mining history and mountain landscapes, and a projected annual increase of millions of dollars to the city’s tax revenue.

The preliminary PUD is meant as an outline for the design and logistics of the resort, with exterior renderings creating the basic design and facets of the building. Skeykhet cites the preliminary renderings as the “embryo of the building,” establishing the essential structure before the detailed construction requirements and logistics.

On Sunday, July 28, Sheykhet and the city council chambers hosted a follow-up public meeting in-person and online, this time focusing on a technical review of the project. Financial elements, traffic, and preservation were among the items on the agenda.

The technical review discussed the resort’s financial impact on the community, proposed traffic improvements, grading, drainage, and other utilities, and communication about the project going forward. The meeting concluded with a break into three groups for finances, engineering, and public feedback.

Skeykhet stated that the development team did not schedule the proposal introduction to check boxes off for the development process. He and Noffsinger encouraged as much feedback and as many questions from the community as possible, aiming to involve the community in the resort’s concept before moving to the second stage of development, the final PUD.

For Skeykhet in particular, feedback is crucial for a better understanding and dedicated addressing of the public’s concerns. That is his priority, as “developers, consultants, we come and we go, and you, the community, stay.”

The first public hearing will be conducted by the Planning Commission on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, starting at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers. For upcoming meetings, access to full meeting recordings, and project materials and information, head to centralcity.colorado.gov/community-development-projects.

Central City will be hosting the second public presentation of their 2025 Comprehensive Plan on Monday, August 4, 2025, starting at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers. For more information about the entire plan and to submit feedback for the plan and its projects, head to centralcity.app.