Honolulu Waldorf School will acquire the buildings and oceanfront campus of an East Honolulu junior college and will open high school classes there next fall.

The purchase of TransPacific Hawaii College resolves a controversy that pitted the private school against neighbors whose opposition stalled development of a high school on its Niu Valley elementary school campus.

In a letter to parents Friday, school officials said they expect to take possession of the college across from Aina Haina Shopping Center on Feb. 1 and start classes in August.

TransPacific Hawaii College announced last summer that it will close Dec. 31. The college, which opened in 1977 and catered to Japanese and other Asian students, cited financial difficulty with the decline of applicants to the two-year liberal arts college.

Waldorf attorney Kenneth Marcus declined to reveal the purchase price of the facility, which includes four buildings with 20 classrooms, offices and a library. TransPacific Hawaii College authorities did not respond to requests for information.

In the deal, Waldorf acquires the college's leasehold, which ends in 2039. Oregon-based Simpson Manor Inc. owns the 40,000-square-foot property.

“;This created a whole different mood for us in our community,”; said Connie Starzynski, Waldorf administrative director. “;We found a resolution for everyone. Parents, teachers and students are very excited.”;

The move will allow the school to increase its high school population, now at 70 students. “;We're hoping to grow to 120,”; she said. The high school has occupied a Hunakai Street property on a lease from Kamehameha Schools that ends in 2011. “;We have outgrown that space,”; she said.

A $4.5 million price tag was put on the original plan to build in Niu Valley. The capital campaign will continue, but, Starzynski said, “;I can't give any figures. We are still anticipating what will be the cost of repairs and renovations.”;

Opposition has stalled the project for more than two years. Neighbors appealed a January 2007 city permit even though it forced the school to scale back the building plan and limit enrollment to allay concerns about traffic congestion and noise.

The Zoning Board of Appeals had set a Dec. 16 hearing to hear from 21 opponents who said the permit is vague. The hearing has been postponed until February “;in hopes it will become moot,”; said the Waldorf attorney.

“;We're pleased to have resolved the dispute,”; Marcus said. “;If there's a path that resolves the problem in everyone's best interest, that's always the best outcome.”;

Opponent Marty Plotnick said yesterday, “;We have accomplished what we set out to do: no high school in Niu. If they want to do anything else on that property, they will have to start over.”;

The enrollment at the Niu school is 165 elementary and middle school students and 60 children in the early-childhood classes.