The state is looking to build a parking structure and other public facilities that could include an innovation and technology park on a 5-acre lot in Kakaako where the University of Hawaii originally planned to build its cancer center.
The Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state agency regulating development in Kakaako, plans to take back the parcel from UH next month to "maximize the benefits of the site," HCDA Executive Director Anthony Ching said in an interview.
The university had wanted to use an expiring development agreement to build its own parking structure and other health sciences facilities adjacent to its John A. Burns School of Medicine.
"The expectation was that (UH) would develop the cancer center there … and as we know, the center has been constructed elsewhere," Ching said.
The parcel — just Ewa of the medical school campus and bordered by Keawe and Ilalo streets — currently serves as a parking lot for UH and two base yards for construction firms.
UH had obtained a 65-year lease about five years ago to build the cancer center there but instead put the $120 million center on the makai side of the medical school campus. (The lease stated the lot would return to the HCDA if the cancer center wasn’t built there.)
Ching said HCDA plans to act as master developer for the 5-acre parcel and work with UH to include some university facilities on the site.
"As we believe that the university still has room for expansion, and as we believe in that vision and support it, we’ve entered into discussions where we would master-develop the lot," he said. "While we develop appropriate university facilities there, we would also look to develop an appropriate regional parking facility and other uses like an innovation and technology park and perhaps some other public-facility-type uses — alongside what the university envisioned at that site."
UH President M.R.C. Greenwood told a Board of Regents committee last week that while the university was surprised by the HCDA’s move, "it’s not necessarily a negative development."
The university would like to see health sciences-related research, clinical and educational facilities such as a diabetes and obesity research center built on the lot, a UH spokeswoman said.
With the parcel’s existing 438 stalls expected to be displaced, UH Chief Financial Officer Howard Todo said that obtaining a parking agreement for university use "will be key."
Ching said the two agreements — one for university parking and a "loose development agreement" to jointly develop the parcel with UH — are expected to be discussed at the authority’s August meeting.
He described the proposed development agreement as "a positive and appropriate partnership."
"The advantages to the HCDA serving as master developer is that we’re a sister (state) agency not looking to profit, but support the development of university facilities. We’re doing it as part of our function as a community redevelopment agency. Development is our expertise," Ching said. "We’ll leave to the university what educational developments would be appropriate and needed at that site, which is their expertise."
Asked about a projected timeline for the development, Ching said there are "some immediate prospects" for the lot but that the HCDA "will be working very closely with the university to conceptualize development plans."
