Plan for loft apartments falls flat in meeting

A developer is proposing to build 499 rental loft apartments in downtown Kapolei aimed at young professionals. But some community representatives say the area has plenty of housing and needs more places for young professionals to work.

The local office of Ohio-based development firm Forest City Enterprises Inc. presented plans for the project called Kapolei Lofts at a meeting Monday night before the planning and zoning committee of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board.

Forest City is partnering with an affiliate of landowner and Kapolei master developer James Campbell Co. on the estimated $140 million project.

The 17-acre site, which is Diamond Head of a neighborhood shopping center anchored by Foodland Super Market that opened last year on the makai edge of downtown Kapolei, has a business/mixed-use zoning that allows for housing.

Jon Wallenstrom, president of Forest City’s local affiliate, said the loft rentals will be a unique project in Hawaii that will fulfill an unmet need for new rental apartments for residents at a broad income level range.

"Hawaii really hasn’t produced market-rate apartments for young professionals who help drive the economy,"he said."We are looking to house Hawaii’s workforce."

In reaction to the plan, however, the neighborhood board committee opposed adding homes in the commercial center of the region envisioned to become Oahu’s Second City.

"It’s a great concept and it’s a great-looking project, but it doesn’t fulfill the need for a Second City,"said Evelyn Souza, board chairwoman.

"Where are they going to work?"asked Souza, referring to what would be more than 500 new renters to the area.

Souza said downtown Kapolei is losing too much of its remaining land to housing and retail.

Kioni Dudley, board vice chairman, said the developer should come back with a commercial project, such as the office buildings that were planned but not built before the recession a few years ago.

After Forest City’s presentation, the neighborhood board committee voted to oppose the project, Dudley said.

Forest City, however, already has a grading permit and expects to start construction by March. Initial residences could be finished in a year with full completion in two years, Wallenstrom said.

Neighborhood board votes are advisory but can influence government agency decisions on discretionary permits.

Dudley called the Kapolei Lofts project urban sprawl in downtown Kapolei. "It’s the antithesis of what should be there," he said. "There’s no jobs for them. They’re all going to be going to work in Honolulu. We need professional jobs. We have this tremendous traffic problem."

Wallenstrom argues that companies that need young professionals won’t move into Kapolei if the community lacks an attractive place to live like Kapolei Lofts.

"We’d love for Google to come to Kapolei, but it’s not going to happen without homes for the workforce,"he said.

Units at Kapolei Lofts will range from 400 square feet to 1,250 square feet with one to three bedrooms. Monthly rent is projected to range from $1,261 to $3,200.

Wallenstrom said 100 units will be affordable to households earning no more than 80 percent of Honolulu’s median income as part of a city requirement tied to land development approvals. That equates to $54,850 for a single person, $62,650 for a couple and $78,300 for a family of four.

At least 299 units will be affordable to households earning up to 140 percent of the median income, he said.

That equates to $96,040 for a single person, $109,760 for a couple and $137,060 for a family of four.

Wallenstrom said Kapolei Lofts will have many amenities, including a lap pool, cybercafe with espresso bar, a gym rivaling those of resort facilities, a banquet hall, community center and entertainment room. A 1.5-acre linear park Forest City is calling Palailai Mall will bisect the property. Lofts will have 9- or 12-foot ceilings, and lanai will be big enough for outdoor dining. A restaurant and coffee shop also are envisioned.

"It’s really resort-style living in Kapolei for the workforce,"Wallenstrom said.