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Land parcel
pegged for park
or condos
Developers and Waikiki
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
leaders are fighting over
the 0.8-acre piece of land
Star-BulletinWaikiki leaders want a park and parking lot on a parcel at Seaside Avenue and Aloha Drive, which is also being eyed as the site of a controversial senior residential tower.
The park plan, however, hinges on the slim chance that some of the funding will come out of this year's Legislature.
A bill now moving through the City Council would allow the city to put up the park and parking lot on the 0.8-acre site bounded by Seaside, Aloha Drive, Royal Hawaiian Avenue and Manukai Street.
Seaside Club Senior Living LLC has proposed for the site the $45 million, 260-unit Seaside Resort Villas project. The developer, seeking exemptions to land-use laws for the project in exchange for designating the project as affordable, told the Planning Commission that it opposes the park plans.
But area Councilman Duke Bainum, who has criticized the proposed condominium project, said a park and underground public parking lot is critical for an area starving for both.
It would probably cost roughly $2 million to compensate the landowner if the city were to condemn the property for a park.
Bainum said Mayor Jeremy Harris has agreed to approve funding for at least half the project if the Legislature picks up the rest of the tab.
Managing Director Ben Lee confirmed the administration's interest.
State Rep. Galen Fox (R, Waikiki-Ala Wai) said he put in a measure that received no hearing in the House and failed to make it out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Fox is hopeful, however, it can still get in the budget.
"It's very difficult to get the state to provide money for a city park but we're going to to do our best," Fox said.
The Waikiki area has less park space than anywhere else on the island, he said.
Officials with the developer could not be reached for comment.
http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us
