Concern Mounts on Where the Waikiki Homeless Will Go

At the start of this year, Honolulu officials estimated that there were 560 chronically homeless people living on Oahu, out of which approximately 30 percent, or 170 people, lived in Waikiki.  Last month, the Honolulu Police Department begun enforcing a new law which prohibits lying and sitting on Waikiki's public sidewalks.  It is estimated that about 50 to 60 percent of the homeless population in Waikiki has moved away from Waikiki.  However, there has been conflicting information as to where the homeless have gone or plan to relocate to.

According to Ron Lockwood, the chairman of the McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board, there appears to be an increase of homeless camped out in his board's jurisdiction. Lockwood stated that the homeless are sleeping on side streets to avoid being harassed by law enforcement officers.  Neighborhood boards in Ala Moana, Kakaako, and Chinatown are also concerned if they would see an surge in homeless on their streets.  Mayor Kirk Caldwell has stated that he is committed to its "Housing First" Program which would help to provide permanent housing to those deemed chronically homeless.  However, while the funds are in place to build these units, they are still months away from completion.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 10-12-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
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New Bill Would Prohibit Sitting or Lying on Public Sidewalks in Downtown Honolulu

Last week, Mayor Kirk Caldwell proposed a bill that would prohibit people from sitting or lying on public sidewalks in Waikiki.  Impressed by this idea, City Councilwoman Carol, Fukunaga has proposed Honolulu City Council Bill 45 which would make sitting and lying on public sidewalks also illegal in the downtown Honolulu neighborhood, specifically from Chinatown to Ward Avenue in Kakaako.  Fukunaga stated that her constituents complain to her office daily about people lying or sitting on the sidewalks, blocking pedestrian access.  Fukunaga commented, "This is a big problem that has affected businesses and their ability to function in the manner that their businesses were intended."  Similar laws were passed in Seattle and San Francisco and were deemed to be constitutional.

If both bills are passed, it is predicted that the homeless could be forced to relocate to other nearby neighborhoods like Ala Moana, McCully and Moiliili.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 6-21-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com

Update on 'Ohana Hale in McCully - Moderate Priced Condominium Tower

Franco Mola, a local Hawaii developer, is hoping to build a 21 story condominium tower in McCully with a total of 180 studio and one-bedroom units.  The project, called 'Ohana Hale, would be located on the corner of McCully and South King Street.  According to Mola the units would range in price from $250,000 to $440,000 Fee Simple. The majority of the units would be restricted to buyers who earn nor more than 120 percent of Honolulu's median annual income.  This equates to $80,000 for a single person, or $92,000 for a couple.  Mola stated, "Most of the recent residential condominium developments in urban Honolulu are in the luxury price range.  'Ohana Hale provides more affordable and modest-sized market-rate units to fill the void that is ever-increasing in the urban Honolulu housing market."

However, the McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board has raised several objections to the project. Currently there is a height restriction for the area of 150 feet, and Mola is requesting that be raised to 189 feet.  Furthermore, Mola is requesting a zoning variance to double the allowable unit density and to reduce the setbacks to increase the building's size.  Finally, neighbors note that building a 21 story condominium on the property would greatly change the appearance of the area, which is currently low-rise residential properties and a few commercial buildings.  The neighborhood board is willing to support the project, provided that Mola decides to not to request any zoning variances.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-10-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com