Two groups have presented proposals to develop property near Aloha Tower, as of yesterday's 5 p.m. deadline to submit proposals to the Aloha Tower Development Corp. 2 groups pitch ideas
for Aloha Tower area
By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.comNo details of the proposals were available.
The corporation, which is a state agency responsible for waterfront development throughout downtown Honolulu, decided in September it would not negotiate solely with the only company making a pitch for the development rights of the 6.1-acre property.
Rainbow Pier Development LLC, which had a proposal for a hotel, condominium, entertainment and ferry terminal complex, was told it would have to make its pitch along with any other interested developers.
The state's request for proposals, issued in September, carried some conditions.
The group that would get responsibility for developing the pier site between the Coast Guard station and the Maritime Museum would have to provide facilities for an "intra-island" ferry service, including drop-off areas and short-term parking.
That would allow a ferry service to bring passengers from other parts of Oahu to downtown. The developer would not have to provide the ferry service itself, but should offer 10,000 square feet of space for a terminal, the bid document says.
The developer would also have to provide at least 750 parking stalls for Aloha Tower Marketplace and 30,000 square feet of office space for the Department of Transportation's harbor operations.
In return, the Aloha Tower Development Corp. was willing to enter into a 65-year lease of the property, which now is mostly parking but includes the port facilities for the Navatek cruises and a docking place for a tour catamaran business.
The corporation does not have to pick either of the proposals.
