Underground lot
gets mixed reactions
CORRECTION
Friday, June 20, 2003» The cost to park in the new Smith-Beretania parking lot is 50 cents per half hour. A story on Page A11 in yesterday's early edition listed an incorrect amount.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.The long-awaited 114-stall underground parking garage at Smith and Beretania streets in downtown Honolulu opens today to mixed reviews.
Area resident Christine Brown said the parking garage is needed, but she is happy the city put a park there as well.
"It's a fabulous job," she said. "It's opening up for the children, the teenagers and the elderly."
But some shop owners whose businesses suffered through months of construction are skeptical about whether the project is worth it because they are not sure shoppers will want to park in an underground lot.
"I haven't talked to anyone who is happy with this," said Milan Chun, who owns a lei shop on Smith Street across from the lot. "I don't think it's an asset to this area."
The $8 million project replaced a street-level lot with the underground garage and above-ground landscaped park and basketball court. The park is expected to open in August.
"We wanted to get the parking opened as soon as possible for people who are going to the businesses in that area," city spokeswoman Carol Costa said.
Groundbreaking occurred in September 2001. The project was supposed to be completed by last summer at a cost of $7.6 million, but discovery of ancient bones at the site delayed completion.
Karl Rhoads, of the Downtown Neighborhood Board, said the project is a compromise between residents who argued that parks are lacking in downtown and businesses that would have preferred to keep the heavily used old parking lot.
Parking will be from 6 a.m. to midnight each day at 50 cents an hour. Diamond Parking will manage the parking structure. The garage entrance is on Beretania Street, and the exit is on Pauahi Street.
