Safeway unveils
its early plans
for Kapahulu
Safeway Inc. executives gave more than 50 Kapahulu residents a look at their preliminary plans for a 24-hour grocery store and gas station in the neighborhood last night.
California-based Safeway has been meeting with community residents and officials since announcing that it was considering purchasing the old Love's Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue and an adjacent strip mall owned by the Gouveia family. The company, which organized last night's meeting at Jefferson Elementary School, expects to make a decision by December about whether to proceed.
"We wanted to meet with businesses and the public before we get to the public hearing stage," said Steve Berndt, Safeway's director of real estate. "It's better if we all work together."
If the company proceeds, Safeway would likely begin building in 2006 and open the store in 2007, he said.
Berndt said that the project is designed to fit into Kapahulu's active streetscape.
The company's plans include a traffic signal and sound walls to mitigate traffic and noise concerns. The plans show that the project's curved storefronts and shade canopies will maintain the art-deco motif of Kapahulu. The store would use about 67,000 square feet of the 200,000-square-foot property. An art deco gas station would go on the makai side, and another 8,000 square-feet of retail space would be built into the center. Parking would be available on top of Safeway as well as in the front of the store.
The project would create between 150 to 200 union jobs, Berndt said.
"It's the greatest thing for Kapahulu," said Ginny Meade, director of the Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance. "The community has been dormant for so long, this would give it what it needs."
Residents expressed concern that the project could increase noise and traffic and that its three-story height could block tradewinds.
Leimoni Ho said she is worried about noise and traffic but excited about redevelopment in her neighborhood. "I'm kind of excited about shopping there," Ho said.
www.safeway.com
