Kalihi housing residents losing patience

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Residents of Kalihi Valley Homes are urging the state to speed up renovations at the 400-unit public housing project, which are expected to take about 10 years to complete. But a state spokesman says work is proceeding as quickly as possible with the money available.

The state has completed Phase 1 of its renovations at Kalihi Valley Homes. Phase 2 is under way and is expected to take a year to complete. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"The residents understood that the project would only take five to seven years," said Clementina Ceria, chairwoman of the FACE public housing committee. "Toward the end of last year, they were told it would take up to 12 years, and they were very disappointed and angry. We tried to get the state to commit to shortening the renovation time, but they said they couldn't because they were having financial problems and there are other housing projects that need work."

Ron Lim, special assistant to the governor for housing, said the project is being fast-tracked, but the residents don't understand that.

"We have about 5,000 public housing units that we own and operate statewide," Lim said. "(The U.S. Department of) Housing and Urban Development gives us $15 million to $16 million a year for capital improvements. We have to be equitable. Right now Kalihi Valley Homes are getting substantially more than its proportional share. That's OK. We are committed to getting it done, but we cannot guarantee it will be done in four years, five years or six years because we have other projects that also need monies."

Resident Maria Pato said work could be done faster.

"We waited a year between the end of Phase 1 and the beginning of Phase 2 renovations," Pato said. "Why the big delay?"

Lim said Phase 1, which included renovating five buildings with 45 units at a cost of $7.25 million, was completed in October 2001.

Phase 2 has already started and is expected to take about a year. It involves 90 units in 10 buildings at a cost of $10.25 million. Three buildings with 27 units will be demolished to make room for a small park.

Phase 3 includes renovating 54 units in six buildings, and the project has already been sent out for the consultants contract, Lim said. Work will take about 18 months and cost an estimated $9 million.

"At this rate we hope to be done in six phases," Lim said. "There is really no guarantee on the timing because of the funding. I understand they want it done as soon as possible. We would like that, too. If we had the funding available, we would get this thing done. It is a national problem. There is not enough federal monies to adequately maintain all of the public housing inventory."

Ceria said many residents are still living in deplorable conditions with cockroach- and rat-infested homes, leaking pipes and broken cabinets and appliances. Many of the residents have lived for decades with these conditions and she worries that some residents will die before ever getting a decent place to live.

Ceria said the rally Saturday is designed to make an impression on lawmakers.

"There might be another way to find funds like going to the Legislature for (Capital Improvement Project) funds," Ceria said. "We are looking toward that. If we can show them what the living conditions are like, maybe they will make it a priority."

Kalihi Valley Homes is one of the oldest and largest public housing projects in Hawai'i. The development opened in 1953 on 24 acres along Kamehameha IV Road and Likelike Highway. Its 45 buildings contain units that have one to five bedrooms.

The renovated units have new kitchens and bathrooms, appliances, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, electrical systems, solar water heaters along with fresh paint and a small private yard for each unit. The apartments are accessible to the handicapped, and improvements are being made to sidewalks and roadways.

Open space will be created for play areas and meeting places as 11 buildings housing 99 apartments are demolished and not replaced.