The Envision Laie team recently presented new information regarding affordable housing at a community meeting held at Laie Elementary School.
About one-hundred residents were in attendance earlier this month at the Laie Community Association public forum to receive an update about the Ko'olauloa Sustainable Communities Plan amendment (KSCP), learn about a recent housing study and ask questions.
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Pane Meatoga, Jr., at a previous community meeting
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Laie Community Association president, Pane Meatoga, Jr., made the presentation. "A 2008 internal review found that the long-term financial sustainability of the Laie institutions and community were a significant concern, and that the growth of the university and creation of affordable housing were critical to our survival," said Meatoga.
He added, "This message was mirrored through the Envision Laie and City KSCP input processes - we're in a severe housing crisis, the priority for residents is housing and jobs."
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Residents participate in 2009 community planning workshops
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Last year Envision Laie commissioned a proprietary housing study by national real estate experts. The study confirmed that a workforce housing program could facilitate the creation of hundreds of affordable housing units - at least half of the total housing proposed by the KSCP for the Laie-Malaekahana area.
"While there are many components that need to come together, the study showed that a unique approach can cut home prices roughly in half," said Eric Beaver, president of Hawaii Reserves, Inc.
"For instance, the Oahu median home price is $720,000; we estimate that price ranges (in 2014 dollars) for single family homes could begin at around $310,000" noted Beaver.
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Affordable housing price ranges - estimated in 2014 $
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Beaver added, "These units are higher density and use a unique, long-term ground lease to help create affordability, allow a workforce employee preference, and provide many of the typical benefits of fee ownership, such as home appreciation, mortgage tax deductions, and resale value." As shown above, fee simple units are also part of the affordable housing program.
Meatoga explained that the program would be unprecedented on Oahu, and remarked, "At least half of the housing in a new Laie-Malaekahana project would be affordable; this is the best option I've seen for local residents who work and live in our communities."
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Artist's conceptual rendering of Laie-Malaekahana housing
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On Sunday, February 22, the Star-Advertiser reported that Councilmember Ikaika Anderson, district representative for Kaneohe-Kailua-Waimanalo, opposes plans for housing - including affordable housing - in the Laie-Malaekahana area.
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Newspaper Article re: Councilmember Anderson's Opposition
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Anderson, chair of the council's zoning and planning committee, said that he does not support land use proposals in the City's KSCP for housing at Malaekahana, and has reportedly introduced amendments to remove such from the City plan proposal currently before the council.
The zoning committee will hold a public hearing on the matter next week Thursday, March 5th. We will publish the time and hearing venue once it has been announced.
If you are in favor of the KSCP, which would help solve the affordable housing crisis in our communities, you can help:
- Call and e-mail City Council members, including Ikaika Anderson, to voice your support for housing in Laie-Malaekahana. For phone numbers and e-mail addresses, click on View Councilmembers, under About The Council on their website (www.honolulu.gov/council).
- Attend and testify at the hearing on Thursday, March 5th (more details to follow).
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Set up a "cottage meeting" with family and friends to learn more. To do so, please contact Jane Toluono at 293-9201.
We encourage everyone to attend this hearing and participate in the democratic process - your voice and our combined support is critical to our community's future!
Mahalo,
