Posted on: Tuesday, September 16, 2003
EDITORIAL
Chinatown lofts held hostage to expansion
You can't blame developers for bristling at the city's sudden maneuver to expand the Chinatown Special District, and thus lower the height of two residential housing complexes near the old O'ahu Railway & Land Terminal building that have been in the planning for some years.
It's frustrating, not to mention unfair, when the rules change mid-game.
Moreover, the city has tied the expansion to rule changes that would make it easier to build artists' lofts in Chinatown. Holding the popular lofts hostage in order to win the Chinatown expansion, of course, smacks of politics.
But the city also has some valid points. It's true that the two projects — a 21-story complex for the elderly and a 23-story affordable residential condominium — would mar the view plane from Chinatown and could use some design improvements.
We don't want Chinatown entirely hemmed in by office and housing towers. Manhattanization has to stop somewhere, especially if we want Chinatown to keep its historic, low-rise character and our waterfront to remain unobstructed.
The Downtown Neighborhood Board has declined to support the expansion plan, but likes the loft proposal. Members don't feel they have enough information, and wonder why Chinatown is being expanded into an area that clearly isn't Chinatown.
And that's a good question.
We suspect the battle will be played out before the City Council. If and when it gets to that arena, we'd like to see the council demand compromises from both sides.
The city could start by separating the "package," instead of holding the loft plan hostage. It would be great for Chinatown to have artists move in, diversify the street life and attract more businesses to the area.
Meanwhile, the city could work with the developers on a design compromise that will better suit Chinatown and the surrounding area. We're told, for instance, that the building might be built lower but wider, with similar total square footages. That suggests there's no reason why everyone can't come out of this a winner.
