City announces plans to adapt Oahu’s residential landscape to population growth

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Pearl City residents got a glimpse of the city’s ambitious plan to transform their neighborhood, which calls for replacing dilapidated buildings with new high-rises over the next 16 years.

The Primary Urban Center Development Plan examines what the urban area of ​​Oahu will look like in 2040. It sets the guidelines and vision for development from Kahala to Pearl City.

At a meeting Monday at Leeward Community College, city planners said that as the rail line extends into the city, Pearl Ridge’s skyline will likely be dotted with high-rise buildings.

However, some residents expressed concerns.

“I am against it because I see that there are buildings there now that are empty and need to be demolished, that are not being given any attention. Unless we update our infrastructure, how can we support new developments?” said one participant.

City planners say they expect developers to revitalize aging housing over the next 10 to 20 years.

But Honolulu City Council member Calvin Say expressed concerns about the financial viability of new housing projects.

The planners replied that affordable housing would remain affordable even if an apartment was demolished and rebuilt.

The main goal is to attract the public to city centers and provide access to Pearl Harbor’s waterfront, the city said.

“We want to ensure that this area has the necessary infrastructure, such as first aid facilities, parks and public transportation, to meet the public transportation needs of our communities,” said a Pearl City resident.

Other major changes proposed in the plan include eliminating front and side yards, using more land for high-rise residential buildings and street-side shops, and transforming the streets of Kaka’ako into a social hub with more retail centers on the pier.

A final meeting focusing on Kahili and Downtown Honolulu will be held on September 23 at 6 p.m. at Kawananakoa Middle School.

By 2045, planners expect 50,000 new housing units to be built across the island to accommodate population growth.

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