UH regents defer
W.Oahu, dorm projects

University of Hawaii regents met behind closed doors for most of the day yesterday to discuss the selection of private developers to build new dorms at the Manoa campus, and a new $100 million UH-West Oahu campus in exchange for development rights for up to 320 acres of Kapolei land.

When they resumed in public session, the regents deferred action on proposals to start negotiations with the developers for both projects.

After the meeting, regent Andres Albano Jr. said the board had concerns about whether the dorm project proposed by Actus Lend Lease LLC of Honolulu with Allen & O'Hara Development Co. LLC of Memphis was the best project.

Albano said the selection committee felt the Actus proposal and the proposal from American Campus Communities were equally good.

"We just want to be sure we choose the best," he said.

UH-Manoa is looking for a private developer to refurbish or build new dorms with at least 800 beds at the current site of Frear and Johnson halls and the International Gateway House on Dole Street.

It's been about 25 years since the last new dorms were built at Manoa.

Regarding UH-West Oahu, Albano said the board wanted more information about the consultants working with developer Hunt ELP Ltd.

UH had selected Hunt and local partners Group 70, Fluor Hawaii and Belt Collins, and were seeking approval to start negotiations to help develop a retail and housing project on up to 320 acres of state land near the Kapolei Golf Course that would finance the UH-West Oahu campus.

Chris Hunt, executive vice president of Hunt ELP, said he was surprised at the board's decision to defer approval.

"We don't understand what is going on behind the scenes," he said. But Hunt said his company would answer any questions the board has and is still committed to the project.

He said his company has experience in these kinds of projects. They developed Navy housing on Ford Island in a similar public/private development agreement.

Details of both proposals are being kept secret until the developers are selected.

The board met in secret because they needed to consult with UH attorneys and because negotiations for the acquisition of public property were involved, said UH Associate General Counsel Presley Pang.

The developers were selected for the projects after a process that began last year with requests for qualifications.

Seven development teams expressed interest in the UH-West Oahu project and 11 teams submitted qualifications for the dorm project.

The list was narrowed and four teams submitted proposals for UH-West Oahu, while five teams submitted proposals to develop the dorms at UH-Manoa.