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A state board is holding the developer of Ward Village to delivering a 3-acre public plaza within two years or before its most recently permitted condominium tower, called ‘A‘ali‘i, can be occupied.
The board of the Hawaii Community Development Authority voted 7-0 Wednesday to reject developer Howard Hughes Corp.’s request to reconsider a condition attached to the ‘A‘ali‘i permit that imposes a completion deadline for the plaza.
Another condition pertaining to the number of moderate-priced units that must be in the tower also will stand.
The Texas-based developer, which could appeal the decision to state Circuit Court or proceed with building a no-frills grassy plaza, has yet to decide how it will proceed.
Todd Apo, vice president of community development for Hughes Corp. in Hawaii, said in a statement, “Despite today’s decision, we remain committed to ʻAʻaliʻi, and are eager to bring more homes to Ward Village for local residents.”
HCDA’s board approved a permit for ‘A‘ali‘i on Jan. 4 with the conditions.
The developer contends that it will take four years to build the plaza as envisioned and that two years is time enough to only complete planning and design work, demolish existing warehouses on the site, do archaeological testing and obtain permits.
Hughes Corp. also objected to part of a condition requiring that 150 moderate-price homes be in ‘A‘ali‘i, including 50 as a price for allowing the tower’s wide base to rise higher than the limit. The developer didn’t object to the total but said it should be able to count
50 moderate-priced units it is building in another tower to satisfy part of the requirement. Hughes Corp. said the 50 units under construction are in excess of a requirement for producing moderate-priced housing equivalent to 20 percent of all the high-rise residences at Ward Village.
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