The current flap over transient vacation units (TVU’s) provides a good opportunity for creative urban planning.

TVUs are a commercial activity and should be located in business zones. Many B-2 neighborhood business areas are struggling with empty stores and blight due to changes in shopping and business patterns. Allowing and encouraging TVUs to be located in B-2 areas would provide tourist dollars to struggling neighborhood businesses and encourage building owners to upgrade their property.

Central Oahu has no hotels or TVUs to serve the military, local families with guests or tourists who don’t want a Waikiki experience. The downtown Wahiawa business district could use a boost and would be an ideal place for TVUs, creating more jobs and developing the tourist industry.

Make the former “Pineapple Capital of the World” the “TVU Town.”

John Kimball

Aiea

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