Hawaii developers may be footing the bill to build, maintain parks in Kakaako
Duane Shimogawa Reporter – Pacific Business News
The state agency overseeing the redevelopment of Kakaako, the so-called “Third City” of Oahu, plans to focus on developing park space and will make developers in the area pay a percentage in land or cash equivalent to build and maintain parks, according to a recent area neighborhood board meeting.
Anthony Ching, executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, told the Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Board, that there is no standard set for park space, but by most accounts, the normal amount is two acres per 1,000 people.
He noted that the 77 acres of nearby Ala Moana Beach Park is not counted in that total.
The authority anticipates that 12,000 people will move into the Kakaako area in the next several years, and plans for 50 acres of open space.
If it provides more activities for more residents to take part in, the homeless may move out, said Ching, who also pointed out that the agency wants greater community outreach through neighborhood board forums in the district.
The need for more open space in Kakaako as it gains scores of condominium towers in the coming years, is one of the concerns of residents in the area.
Other issues include the need for more schools, medical services and addressing infrastructure issues.
There are 4,386 residential units under construction, permitted or pending approval in Kakaako.