Final public workshop tonight on Blaisdell master plan

Oahu residents have one more chance to offer up opinions on the city’s draft Neal S. Blaisdell Center Master Plan at a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall Pikake Room.

City officials, a consultant and community stakeholders have been working on the master plan for the 22.4-acre complex the past two years.

The 53-year-old complex is in need of a major makeover to keep pace with entertainment venues across the country, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said.

The master plan’s current concepts, based on the input from two earlier workshops, include renovating the arena and replacing the Exhibition Hall; adding outdoor public spaces for informal performances; restaurants, cafes and bars; additional parking and improved traffic circulation with the widening of Victoria Street onto Kapiolani Boulevard; and enhanced water features and fishponds.

Tonight’s meeting will be the third and final public workshop on the master plan before the project moves into the design phase in early 2018. City officials say implementing all the improvements would cost between $400 million and $500 million.

Free parking and light refreshments will be provided.

For more details of the plan, go to ImagineBlaisdell.com, or contact city Enterprise Services Director Guy Kaulukukui at 768-5400.