YMCA of Honolulu moving forward with condo, new Y branch project

Oct 11, 2013, 1:57pm HST Updated: Oct 14, 2013, 10:44am HST Duane Shimogawa  |  Reporter- Pacific Business News The YMCA of Honolulu will move forward with its plans to build a smaller Central branch next to a 128-unit condominium on its 1.8-acre property on Atkinson Drive near Ala Moana Center following the Honolulu City Council’s…


Oct 11, 2013, 1:57pm HST Updated: Oct 14, 2013, 10:44am HST
Duane Shimogawa  |  Reporter- Pacific Business News

The YMCA of Honolulu will move forward with its plans to build a smaller Central branch next to a 128-unit condominium on its 1.8-acre property on Atkinson Drive near Ala Moana Center following the Honolulu City Council’s approval of a zoning change for the project, President and CEO Michael Broderick told PBN Friday.

Broderick told PBN that the nonprofit is still working on the exact design of the YMCA buildings.

“So we will turn our attention to that now and then look forward to opening a new Y,” he said. “We think the old Y will be demolished sometime by the fall of 2014 and we anticipate 18 to 24 months after that to open the new Y.”

The condo developer also is building the new Y and it has already gathered a team to build both the high-rise and the new Y, which will encompass 30,000 square feet with no residents, a swimming pool and a very sophisticated aqua facility that will cater particularly to seniors.

“Part of the Y will be focused on catering to seniors because that’s the trend and we will continue to take care of our youths with a youth center,” Broderick said.

The proposed condo, called “Aloha Kai,” came under some criticism with concerns arising over obstructed view plains and traffic, but ultimately, those concerns were not enough for the city not to approve the zone change for the project.

The YMCA of Honolulu’s flagship Nuuanu branch, as PBN first reported, also is looking at undergoing a $20 million makeover, including a $5 million parking structure above its surface parking lot, as part of an eight-phase master plan.