Hawaiʻi

Construction P.O. Box 179441 , HI 96817 Alliance (808) 220-8892

April 21, 2020

Keith Kurahashi RM Towill 2024 South King St. Honolulu 96819

RE: SUPPORT for Halewai’olu Senior Residences Comments to NEPA EA

Dear Mr. Kurahashi,

The Hawai‘i Construction Alliance is comprised of the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters; the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union, Local 630; International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, Local 1; the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 368; and the Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 3. Together, the member unions of the Hawai‘i Construction Alliance represent 15,000 working men and women in the basic crafts of Hawai‘i’s construction industry.

The Hawaii Construction Alliance submits this letter of support for the Halewai’olu Senior Residences Project (HSR Project) NEPA Environmental Assessment (Federal EA), published on the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s website on April 8, 2020.

As we are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local governments are trying to push out “shovel ready” projects in an effort to keep the economy going. The HSR Project is a City project so it should be fast-tracked because it is an affordable housing project which is considered “critical infrastructure,” under Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Emergency Order No. 2020- 02, dated March 22, 2020. Moreover, the HSR Project is for our most vulnerable population - - our seniors which makes this Project even more important for the City and County of Honolulu.

The Federal EA for this Project shows the benefits this Project will bring will very little impact to the environment. We are in an affordable housing crisis now so we must deliver affordable housing projects as soon as possible. Accordingly, we support the issuance of the FONSI and fast-tracking of entitlements so that this Project can be delivered to our kupuna as soon as possible. This will also help our economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

Mahalo,

Nathaniel Kinney Executive Director Hawai‘i Construction Alliance [email protected]

cc: Seiji Ogawa, Department of Land Management 558 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813 [email protected]

April 27, 2020

Mr. Keith Kurahashi, Principal Planner R.M. Towill Corporation 2024 North King Street, Suite 200 Honolulu, Hawaii 96819

RE: Halewai’olu Senior Residences—NEPA EA

Dear Mr. Kurahashi:

Pacific Resource Partnership writes in strong support of the Halewai’olu Senior Residence Project.

Honolulu’s senior population is growing rapidly, and the trend is expected to continue as baby boomers age. Between 2010-2045 the population of seniors in the City and County of Honolulu age 65 and over is expected to increase 86% from 138,490 to 257,629. The Halewai’olu Senior Residences Project will help the City and County of Honolulu address the supply shortage of senior affordable rental housing by providing 155 affordable units to seniors (age 62+) whose household income is 80% and below of Area Median Income (AMI).

This Project promotes high-density, mixed use development, including transit-oriented development, to increase the supply of affordable homes for seniors at a location near retail and community services in the Downtown/Chinatown area, which will help to build equitable transit-oriented communities where housing and commercial projects are facilitated by multimodal transportation systems. Further, this Project will help to stimulate ’s economy, during these difficult economic times caused by COVID-19, by generating approximately 780 jobs.

Given the above, PRP respectfully requests the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Land Management’s favorable consideration of the Project’s National Environmental Protection Act Environmental Assessment. Thank you for this opportunity to submit written comments.

Sincerely,

Christopher Delaunay Government Relations Manager

JOEY MANAHAN COUNCILMEMBER (808) 768-5007 (808) 768-1208 e-mail: [email protected]

April 27, 2020

Mr. Keith Kurahashi RM Towill 2024 N. King Street Suite 200 Honolulu, HI 96819 [email protected] Re: Halewai’olu Senior Residences Comments to NEPA EA

Aloha Mr. Kurahashi,

I submit this letter in support of the Halewai’olu Senior Residences (“HSR Project”) NEPA Environmental Assessment, published on the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s website on April 8, 2020. As the Councilmember of District 7 (, Iwilei, Kalihi Kai, Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Hickam Foster Village Ford Island and ), I have been supportive of the HSR Project from the outset because of the lack of affordable housing in the City and County of Honolulu, as well as State of Hawaii. There is an even more pressing need for affordable rentals for our seniors and the HSR Project will provide 155 units for our most vulnerable population. The NEPA EA for the Project outlines the many benefits this Project will bring to the community and any potential environmental impacts are minimal and will be mitigated. Since this Project is located in the urban core of downtown, it is optimal for our seniors. It is located close to a future rail stop and is in walking distance to many amenities. The Department of Planning and Permitting called for only 25 parking stalls yet the Project will provide 51 stalls, along with numerous bicycle stalls. The need for this Project is timely. It is my sincere hope that the City and County of Honolulu;s Department of Land Management will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact pursuant to the NEPA EA so that this Project can continue forward with entitlements. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Sincerely,

Joey Manahan Councilmember, District VII

Cc: Department of Land Management

Keith Kurahashi RM Towill 2024 South King Street Ste. 200 Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 [email protected] Re: Halewai’olu Senior Residences Comments to NEPA EA

May 1, 2020

Dear Mr. Kurahashi:

I am submitting these comments in support of the Halewai’olu Senior Residences (“Project”) NEPA Environmental Assessment, published on the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s website on April 8, 2020.

As the State Representative of District 29 which includes the site of the future Halewai’olu Senior Residences, I acknowledge what this project will bring to the area on River Street. Currently, there is a vacant two-story commercial building which is owned by the City and has created many issues for the community. In particular, the current building has become a place for the homeless to congregate and for other illegal activity to occur. The development and construction of the Halewai’olu Senior Residences will provide much needed affordable rental housing for our kupuna.

The NEPA EA makes clear all of the benefits this project will bring and that there will be no significant detrimental impacts to the environment. Specifically, the NEPA states: The Project involves the development of a new affordable, rental housing residential facility for seniors aged 62 and over at 80% and below of the HUD AMI. Currently there are no other affordable senior housing projects planned in the immediate area. Honolulu’s real estate market is anticipated to see several years of increased prices for all condominium units, and the market for rental housing will experience a similar trend. The market for the proposed Project is promising, with the majority of comparable residential facilities exhibiting stable occupancies and low vacancy rates. See Section 5.1.2 NEPA EA.

This Project will bring badly needed senior affordable rentals to Hawaii and as such, I support this Project. Accordingly, it is my sincere hope that the City and County of Honolulu will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact pursuant to the NEPA EA so that this Project can continue on with entitlements. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Sincerely,

Daniel Holt State Representative District 29 (Kalihi, Palama, Iwilei, Chinatown) cc:

Seiji Ogawa, Department of Land Management 558 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813 [email protected]