Memorial project
approval expected

The City Council votes tomorrow on
a permit to restore the Natatorium

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Opponents of the proposed restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium hope to gain support from a 1985 study. But the project is expected to clear its last major hurdle tomorrow with the approval of a special management area use permit at a City Council meeting at 2 p.m.

Rick Bernstein of the Save Kaimana Beach Coalition is pointing to a 1985 report commissioned by the city which shows that retaining just the arch of the Natatorium and creating a sand beach would cost $4.6 million, in 1987 dollars.

"It creates an acre of sand and a third-of-an-acre swimming lagoon," Bernstein said.

The report, by CJS Group Architects, estimated full restoration at $10.9 million.

The city's latest estimate, based on a more recent study by Leo Daly and Associates done for the state, is $11.5 million for full restoration.

Chris Smith, principal for CJS Group, stands by his conclusions. "It's an economic issue," he said. "If you look at it purely on an economic basis, the beach restoration clearly would be a better choice."

Randy Fujiki, city Design and Construction director, said the Daly study also shows that tearing down the entire structure, built in 1927, would save the city no more than $1 million.

The CJS study was flawed in its "constructability analysis," he said. "We felt (Smith) had not done much of the ocean engineering needed to make this a constructionable scheme."

The Natatorium debate has continued for years. Besides the money issue, Bernstein and others say the restoration would create a health hazard because of poor water circulation.

They have also questioned the effects of the project on nearby waters, including Kaimana Beach Park.

City officials say such fears have been alleviated.

Project proponents believe it would be a travesty to tear down any portion of the monument. They believe a renovated structure would draw more visitors to the area. They note also that the building is on the state and national historic register.

Councilman John Henry Felix, a key proponent, said there are "seven (on the City Council) who are favorably inclined" to support the Natatorium.

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Council to decide on housing units
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Approval for three apartment complexes that would bring more than 600 new affordable units tops a busy morning at the City Council tomorrow.

Opposition is growing for at least one of the projects, an 18-story, $23.5 million rental complex on Isenberg Street in Moiliili.

Bishop Estate is proposing 113 studios and 104 one-bedroom units on the 41,580-square-foot site.

Area resident Nicholas Augusta said he has nearly 800 names on a petition calling on Council members to reject the bill, which allows the estate exemptions from regular housing codes.

"The people are very upset about it," Augusta said. "It's just not a good fit for the community."

Augusta cited lack of street parking, traffic congestion and destruction of the view plane as the major objections.

Two other affordable projects within a mile or two of the Isenberg proposal are also looking to get approvals for exemptions.

Bishop Estate is proposing a $25.4 million, 21-story rental building on a 43,560-square-foot property at the end of Varsity Place. The target market is the college crowd for the 290-unit complex.

The Hawaii Housing Development Corp. is planning a $14.2 million, eight-story elderly rental building at South King and Alder streets.

On a housing-related issue, lessees from two condominium projects are seeking approval for their requests to begin condemnation proceedings. The Wailana at Waikiki case involves about 57 of 100 owner-occupants who are negotiating with landowner KDI Investments but have not been able to come to an agreeable price.

At the Kahala Beach condominiums, lessees of 24 of 34 owner-occupied units in the 196-unit complex want a jury to decide how much they should pay landowner Bishop Estate for their fee interests.

Also on the agenda is a petition for 24 lessees among about 30 owner-occupied units from the Moiliili Gardens condominium.

Other items before the Council tomorrow include:

First reading for a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The Council already banned smoking in most workplaces.

Final reading of a bill restricting publication racks in Waikiki to 65 locations to be paid for by publishers.