CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mike Leary, left, and Sonny Lee of Island Demo Inc. attended yesterday's meeting on Hawaii Military Communities LLC's Navy housing project. The company was a party to the mainland partnership's bid.
Navy homes
contractor releases
plan detailsCommunity centers and
recreational facilities will be a top
priority in the construction process
The mainland partnership awarded a $250 million 50-year contract to build and renovate nearly 2,000 Oahu homes for the Navy unveiled some of its plans yesterday for how the new communities will take shape.
Building community centers and recreational facilities will be a top priority once construction begins, according to Thomas Henneberry, president of Hawaii Military Communities LLC, a partnership of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises Inc., a real estate development firm, and Texas-based construction firm C.F. Jordan LP.
"We want to get the community centers up first so existing residents can get to enjoy it," he said.
The company envisions groups of homes clustered around a central green park area that connects via green walkways to shared recreational and community facilities located no more than one-quarter mile away from any home in the development. Garages will be behind, rather than in front of the homes and each home will have a lanai in front, he said.
"It's about improving the quality of life for out military families," said Henneberry.
He envisions plenty of work for local contractors once the project, slated to begin next year, gets under way.
Hawaii Military Communities teamed with about 20 local contractors when it submitted its bid for the contract. Henneberry said he's not sure how many more companies and individuals will come on board once the project begins.
"I don't know the exact amount but probably about five times the amount in terms of consultants, contractors and construction people than we have now. It's absolutely our goal to include as many local labor, contractors and consultants as we can," he said.
HAWAII MILITARY COMMUNITIES LLC
The winning bidders for $250 million in Navy housing work over 50 years want to emphasize recreation and interaction in their development. This rendering, presented at a meeting yesterday, illustrates the importance they intend to place on green space.
The company has created a local Web site, www.hawaiimilitarycommunities.com, where companies and individuals interested in finding out about employment opportunities with the organization can submit information and ask questions.
Hawaii-based Construction Management & Development Inc. was involved in putting local contractors together with Hawaii Military Communities prior to the bid. It has worked with Forest City Enterprises on other large housing projects both here and on the mainland.
The company will be actively involved in the coming phases of the project, said Randall Fujiki, senior vice president and project director for CM&D.
"We'll help with the whole process. We'll hire a development team, create a schedule and budget and help manage the process.
Another local company involved in the bid process was Island Demo Inc. The company employs 42 people, but would likely increase that number by about 20 for this project if it is successful in securing work, said Chief Executive Officer Mike Leary.
Leary said the company has experience on other Defense Department projects. It specializes in asbestos abatement and demolition, he said.
Henneberry said Hawaii Military Communities also plans to stay involved in the housing project after it is completed. Forest City already owns and manages about 36,000 residential units in other communities it has built and will do the same in Hawaii, he said.
"We are a long-term owner of real estate in all the projects we do so you'll see us around for a long time," he said.
