15 Acre Site To Gain 2,400 Homes In Major Housing Overhaul

Hawaii is embarking on a significant transformation of its public housing landscape with a groundbreaking ceremony held this Thursday for a project set to redefine housing in the state. Construction crews are beginning work on the first phase of the redevelopment at the Mayor Wright Homes site. Located in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood near downtown Honolulu, the 15-acre property is currently home to a complex that has stood for nearly 75 years.

The Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority, in partnership with developer Highridge Costa, is moving forward with plans to replace the aging structures bounded by King Street, Liliha Street, and Vineyard Boulevard. This project marks the largest public housing redevelopment in Hawaii's history. According to organizers, the finished development will feature seven times the number of homes currently on the site. Unlike the existing setup, the new community will serve a mix of income levels rather than focusing solely on very low-income residents.

Planners have outlined a scope that includes more than 2,400 new rental residences. These units will range from studios to five-bedroom options, alongside public housing units, condominiums available for purchase, and commercial space. The entire development will be distributed across 10 towers. Access to these resources is planned with specific income thresholds in mind. More than half of the units are designated for tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income.

Future phases will extend eligibility to households earning up to 100% of the area median income, a figure that sits at roughly $150,000 a year for a family of four. Current residents who must move during construction are being relocated, though they will hold priority when it is time to return. Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the housing authority, framed the significance of the day beyond the physical construction. "It's not simply about breaking ground. It is about breaking barriers," he said, noting that the state cannot solve future housing problems using past methods.

Gov. Josh Green described the project as a core component of the state's housing strategy. "Housing provides health," he said, observing that people with stable housing can focus on education, food security, and health care. Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, expressed admiration for the scale of the undertaking, stating, "What we are building here is a legacy." Ouansafi further emphasized that residents deserve safe, modern homes in communities where poverty is not concentrated, adding, "Public housing should never mean second class housing."

The financial scope is substantial, with the housing authority estimating that Phase 1A will cost $333 million. The state's 2017 estimate for the entire project was $1.3 billion. In addition to housing, the development will feature four acres of public parks and recreational space. The design places the community within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station, a connection Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi linked to the arrival of the Skyline rail line. He called the combination historic and unprecedented for affordable housing.

The timeline for these changes spans a significant period. The first building is scheduled to open in 2029, and the full redevelopment is expected to take 15 years to complete. Further information regarding the project and its timeline is available at mayorwrighthomes.com.