2024-03-05 08:18:00
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – This lower Manoa neighborhood is no stranger to residential high-rises, with several already built right across from Punahou School.
But right next to them are these small two-story apartment buildings that could be replaced by another high-rise.
Developer Christopher Flaherty hosted a packed meeting Monday night on the grounds of Central Union Church, sharing his company’s goal to build two apartment buildings along Wilder Avenue near Alexander Street.
“The goal is, you know, we have space there. We have space to put more housing that is affordable and house more Kupuna in that space,” Christopher Flaherty said.
One of those towers would go up where Maurice Lee’s property sits.
He says he’s been approached to sell his property, but at 97 years old — he’s staying put.
“My Dad has lived there since he was a teenager. It’s a family property, and he plans to stay there till the end,” Maurice’s daughter Maura Yi said.
Flaherty would not only have to convince Maurice to sell, but other elderly residents too, and some in this community are already feeling the squeeze.
“This seems to be overdevelopment in an area that it’s not development in an area that it’s not designed for,” Stanton Lum, a resident in the area, said.
“We’re afraid of monster homes — this will be like monster condos.”
Flaherty’s company, Ikenakea, has a track record of building affordable rentals.
Last spring, Hale Makana O Moiliili opened on Algaroba Street, with 100% of its units for seniors. Rents started as low as $500 a month.
Existing residents who are displaced would get first dibs at the new Wilder Avenue units.
“Some of the people that were displaced were relocated, and we helped them with that relocation cost, and even with this one, we plan on doing the same,” Flaherty said.
But with this project still in the planning phase, the developer could face other hurdles.
A new UHERO report found that regulations in Hawaii account for more than half the price of a new condo.
“One big cost that developers talk about is delays,” said Justin Tyndall, a UH Department of Economics professor.
“It’s mostly attributable to understaffing in planning officers and slow bureaucracy. We’re way out of wack with the rest of the country with how long it takes to approve housing.”
There’s no timeline for this project yet.
Even if it’s fast-tracked, Maurice Lee would have to give up the land that’s been in his family for generations.
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