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In Kakaako one recent sunny day, I could see bright blue skies in every direction with an occasional glimpse of the ocean.
I knew to enjoy it while I could; soon, there’ll be few sky or ocean views in Kakaako unless you’re in a $20 million penthouse atop one of two dozen condo towers under development.
If the Legislature doesn’t restrain the Hawaii Community Development Authority, which governs Kakaako, some buildings could exceed the existing 400-foot height limit by 250 feet and stand as close as 80 feet apart.
Few would argue against thoughtful redevelopment of Kakaako, much of which is an eyesore.
But HCDA has drawn scorn because of widespread perception that its process is greased in favor of developers, contractors, construction unions and outside investors.
State leaders make it hard not to be cynical.
The projects have won rapid-fire approval by HCDA after seemingly pro forma hearings, with few changes made in response to public testimony.
There aren’t clear plans to address Kakaako’s crumbling infrastructure, which can barely handle existing density.
The "workforce" housing used to justify the tower glut is only a portion of the units and is aimed at buyers who earn up to 140 percent of Oahu’s median income — $84,574 for a single person or $120,820 for a family of four.
That’s unlikely to help low- and medium-income families most in need of housing, and price limits on "workforce" units eventually lapse so they can be sold at "market" prices along with the luxury units.
Officials link the development to Oahu rail, then describe it as a "walkable community" where residents won’t have to go far to work, shop and play.
Most stunning is Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s reversal.
As a state legislator in 1976, he opposed creating HCDA to bypass the city’s planning, and as a congressman he called for its abolition as recently as 2005.
But as governor, he’s been HCDA’s biggest champion, stacking its board with pro-development interests.
His chief of staff, Bruce Coppa, is former head of Pacific Resource Partnership, the alliance of the Carpenters Union and contractors that’s leading the public relations charge for Kakaako development.
The 2006 Legislature didn’t abolish HCDA as Abercrombie urged, but lawmakers did ban residential development makai of Ala Moana Boulevard to preserve the coast.
Now Abercrombie wants to undo even that gesture to the community; he gave makai property to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in a ceded lands deal and backs legislation to allow its development as a Hawaiian rights issue.
Kakaako and other pro-development schemes such as the failed Public Lands Development Corporation have cost Abercrombie some of his oldest friends, but his new friends have larded his campaign treasury with $3.5 million as of January to fend off his growing list of challengers.
Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
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