Fort Street district bill advances in City Council

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

A bill establishing a business improvement district on Fort Street Mall passed a City Council committee yesterday and now moves on the full council for a second reading July 17 and a public hearing next month.

The bill would allow Fort Street Mall landowners to essentially tax themselves and create the business improvement district similar to the one started last year in Waikiki. A nonprofit corporation would be formed to manage the district and collect money to pay for landscaping, security and maintenance improvements.

Parks and Public Safety Committee chairman Jon Yoshimura, who introduced the bill, said despite criticism that the bill is a "conspiracy to harass the homeless," the point is to make the mall a better place for the entire community.

"The last thing they want to see is people's rights abrogated," Yoshimura said. "In Waikiki, it has not been used to harass or eliminate the homeless."

Fort Street Mall is near many social services provided to homeless people, and the mall has long been a place where they congregate. Many retired people pass time there as well.

Earlier this year, the city removed park benches from part of the mall to keep people from loitering and sleeping there.

Lori Lum, spokeswoman for the improvement group, testified before the committee saying the landowners are willing to work with social service agencies to help the homeless population in the downtown area.

Wai'anae resident James Manaku Sr. said at the meeting that he knows many of the homeless and retired people who frequent the mall and is worried that private security guards would simply chase out anyone considered undesirable.

Committee member Steve Holmes said that in Waikiki the private security guards take action only on private property and the same would likely be true on the mall.

Christine Nakashima-Heise, interim executive director for business district, said all the landowners along Fort Street Mall from Beretania Street to Nimitz Highway have agreed to the proposal. Regulations require that 55 percent of all landowners agree to the district before it can be established through city ordinance.

The plan calls for businesses within the district to be assessed a fee to supplement existing city services such as security and maintenance. The owners would be paying a fee amounting to $1.63 per $1,000 of assessed value as set by the city's real property tax appraisals. The group expects to raise and spend $500,000 the first year on improvements.

City Managing Director Ben Lee said the city administration favors the idea of a business improvement district because it could help to further beautify the area and keep it a clean area that attracts people downtown.

However, Lee said the administration wants to make sure the people and businesses in the area favor the idea of paying additional taxes. "We support it, provided that they have all the landowners supporting the assessment. In concept, we don't have any problems with it."

The vision includes tables for restaurants and shops on the mall and a clean, safe environment for everyone, Lum said.

Yoshimura said landowners opposed to the project should attend the Aug. 7 public hearing in Kapolei to make themselves heard.

Reporter Robbie Dingeman contributed to this report. Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.