Resolution to Install Public Restrooms in Downtown and Chinatown

Honolulu City Councilwoman Carol Fuku­naga has introduced Resolution 13-293 which would have the city install public restrooms in downtown and in Chinatown.  According to Fukunaga, the push comes from businesses and residents in these neighborhoods, who are unhappy with an increasing homeless population who use the sidewalks and alleys as their bathroom.

Jesse Broder Van Dyke, the spokes­man for the Mayor's office has stated that they are looking into this request, but the main concerns are vandalism and safety when picking a public restroom in these areas. Broder Van Dyke noted that the public is allowed to use the restroom at the Hono­lulu Police Department's Chinatown substation. The police station is located at the corner of Hotel and Mau­na­kea streets and is available throughout the day.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-14-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Fourth Attack Submarine to be Stationed at Pearl Harbor

United States Representative Colleen Hanabusa, Hawaii, has announced that the USS Mississippi, a Virginia-class attack submarine, will be stationed at Pearl Harbor starting in July 2014.  This will be the fourth submarine of this class to be based out of Hawaii and is estimated to bring in 130 crew members and an additional $10 million of payroll to the islands.  Hanabusa stated, "I am encouraged by the Navy's announcement that the USS Mississippi will change its home port to Pearl Harbor in July 2014.  This change follows the previously announced intention by the Navy to move 60 percent of its fleet to the Pacific, and ensures that Hawaii will continue to play a key role in our national re-balance to the Asia Pacific region."

With this move, Pearl Harbor will become home to 19 submarines and 11 surface ships.  Hanabusa stated that the U.S. Navy plans to eventually base a total of 35 vessels in Hawaii.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-14-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Bill May Allow Food Trucks to Reserve Parking Stalls

Honolulu City Councilman Ernie Martin is proposing a bill that will allow food trucks and lunch wagons to reserve the exclusive rights to park in specific stalls from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Under the current law, food vendors are forced to compete with normal motorist for parking stalls and are only allowed to park for the maximum posted parking time.  Martin feels that Bill 1 would give vendors the chance to have consistency in their operations as well as generate additional revenue for the city.  The proposed bill does not prevent food trucks or lunch wagons from operating as they are currently.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-13-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Neal S. Blaisdell Center Replacement Discussions Begin

Local politicians and officials have begun discussions on how to go about replacing the historic Neal S. Blaisdell Center, which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary this past year.  The arena, concert hall and exhibition hall are all suffering from deferred maintenance, and worst of all, the original size and shape made it very challenging for more modern events to be hosted there.  Experts feel that the current arena, which can only host 7,000 people for concerts, is much too small, and a 12,000 to 14,000 seat venue would be much more attractive for performers and their agencies.  Deputy director Tracy Kubota of the Department of Enterprise Services, which oversees the facility, stated, "It's an aged facility.  It's a 50-year-old structure. How much more can we get out of it? We can make do, but we just don't know when something large enough will happen to put us offline."

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has stated that that he would like to set aside city funds to create a master plan as to what to do with the Blaisdell Center site.  The discussion is still in its earliest stages, but it appears clear that something must be done soon.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-12-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Renovations at UH Manoa Will Mean Some Off-Campus Classes

The University of Hawaii at Manoa campus is plagued with over $400 million worth of deferred maintenance projects.  According to school officials, over 80 percent of the buildings on campus are in need of some type of repair or renovation.  This means that some classes are going to be forced to move off campus while construction is being completed.

According to Stephen Meder, the assistant vice chancellor for physical, environmental, and long-range planning, the school is currently at 99 percent occupancy, and as a result, other buildings off campus and not directly affiliated with the university will need to be used.  Meder stated, "We're looking at the protocol to addressing the deferred maintenance with modernization of the buildings to be able to bring the campus into the 21st century and support the missions of this campus.  I really think this is a turning point. We are on the threshold of change."

Tom Apple, the Chancellor at Manoa, stated that the school may offer more evening and online classes to help alleviate the fact that there will be less available space during construction.  The school is requesting that state lawmakers help provide revenue bonds for the renovation projects, which would take approximately six years to complete.  The University of Hawaii is proposing that they would repay that debt over the next thirty years through revenue raised by tuition increases.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-11-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Second Ritz-Carlton Tower Draws Concern By Waikiki Residents

Developer PACREP LLC has announced that they will be building a second tower next to their Ritz-Carlton Waikiki Beach Residences in Waikiki.  The first tower, located at 2121 Kuhio Avenue, is already in development, and will be a 38-story, 350 foot tall building with 309 units. The second tower, which may or may not be managed by Ritz-Carlton, will share the same eight story base as the first tower, and will be a 39-story, 350 foot tall building with 280 units.  At a neighborhood meeting, Casey Federman, the Chief Executive Officer of PACREP, stated, "We understand that a lot of you have concerns and questions. The idea tonight is to hear from you and try to answer questions as best we can. We went through this exercise in Phase I. It's good to see you again despite circumstances that might warrant some tough questions." 

The main arguments made by opponents of the second tower are that it would create too much density for that area of Waikiki, damage existing views, create additional traffic problems, and be too taxing on the current sewer and water infrastructure.  Residents in the Four Paddles Condominium will already lose about half of their ocean views due to the first Ritz-Carlton Tower and will probably lose the remainder with the completion of the second tower.  Mark Harpenau, a Four Paddles resident, stated to PACREP officials, "Too dense is what is going on here. You are maximizing your return on investment at the expense of the community."

To view PACREP's website, please go to: www.new­life­for­kuhio­.com

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-10-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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803 Waimanu Gets Approval from HCDA

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has given developer Franco Mola approval to build a condominium at 803 Waimanu Street in Kakaako.  Under the final proposal, the building will be a total of seven stories high and will have a total of 153 units.  This significantly different from the first proposal made in May 2013 of a 27-story tower with 192 units.  Mola stated, "This has been a long, arduous project for us. It's not what we wanted, but we can live with the result."

Residents and owners of the adjacent Imperial Plaza condominium have been very concerned about the development of 803 Waimanu.  Despite the concessions made by Mola to reduce the height of the building and to preserve most of the view channels, the close proximity of the new building has raised concerns over traffic, sewer capacity, and general city infrastructure. Mola added, "I think we designed a building that one, meets the rules, and two, is a good neighbor."  Sales of the building should begin in the spring of 2014.  The building will be classified as affordable, which mean geared towards people earning no more than 120 percent of Honolulu's median income.  This equates to about $82,320 for a single person or $94,080 for a couple.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-9-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
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