Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration is now exploring the possibility of holding onto some of the city’s affordable-housing projects and converting some units into permanent shelter for the homeless and those in low-income brackets.

The city is still likely to sell four of the most attractive projects for cash. Another four projects, Chinatown properties, are being eyed for transit-oriented development because they are on or near the city’s proposed rail system, housing officials told the City Council’s Public Health, Safety and Welfare Committee on Tuesday. Four others, which include smaller units, are being looked at as possible sites that could be opened up as "permanent, supportive housing" for homeless individuals and others in low-income categories.

The 12 projects make up the 1,258-unit package of properties that the city sought to sell or lease to private interests last year with the idea of shoring up the units while relieving the city of about $500,000 a month in expenses and debt. After the so-called Hono­lulu Affordable Housing Preservation Initiative sale was nixed early last year, Council members urged the administration to re-evaluate what’s to happen to the projects.

"We’re looking at the inventory and determining what is the best way forward in managing them," said Chris Sada­yasu, assets manager in the city’s new Strategic Development Office.

The city is still interested in setting up a long-term lease or selling the package’s four "gem" properties: the 160-unit Kulana Nani Apartments in Kane­ohe, the 41-unit Manoa Gardens, the 96-unit Westlake Apartments in Salt Lake and the 150-unit West Loch Elderly Village, Sada­yasu said.

The city is considering keeping four projects at or near the Chinatown rail stations. "We believe they are best (left) in the city inventory" as city officials determine how best to provide affordable housing around the city’s upcoming rail line, he said. Those properties are the 200-unit Chinatown Gateway Plaza, 90-unit Chinatown Manor, 90-unit Harbor Village and 236-unit Marin Tower.

The remaining four properties are being sized up as possible areas where Housing First units can be placed, Sada­yasu said. They include the 14-unit Kanoa Apartments in Kalihi, 10-unit Bachelors Quarters in Ewa Villages as well as Chinatown’s 77-unit Pau­ahi Hale and 94-unit Winston Hale. The units would be converted only as they become vacant, and no existing tenants will be displaced.

After the committee meeting, Sandy Pfund, officer in charge of the Strategic Development Office, stressed that with the exception of a Winston Hale micro-unit project already underway, the plans are in preliminary stages and have yet to be vetted with the affected communities.

Public Health Chairman Ron Menor said he and some colleagues thought the collapse of the HAHPI sale was a negative development. "But given the direction of the city administration where you’re now proposing we keep those projects in our city inventory, maybe it was a blessing in disguise," Menor said.

Councilwoman Ann Koba­ya­shi, however, said she’s bothered that keeping the buildings would leave the city with a continuing debt.

Sadayasu said the city is looking at overhauling its rent schedule for those who should be able to pay more.

Other upcoming and proposed projects highlighted by housing officials:

» The $2.08 million Housing First contract with the Institute for Human Services has, since it was initiated in November, helped 35 homeless individuals and families secure vouchers to stay in apartment units in Wai­kiki and Chinatown-Downtown and on the Wai­anae coast. The contract calls for 115 people to be housed at the end of the first year.

» A $5 million project to buy land in transit-oriented development areas to house the homeless

» A $4 million project for acquisition of affordable-housing units

» A $1.6 million project to rehabilitate existing units at Winston Hale, where the city is also looking at creating micro-units in vacant commercial space on the ground level

» A $150,000 project to begin clearing work for shipping container and modular housing units on a property in Wai­anae.