The existing Palolo Chinese Home plans a $20 million expansion to include a new 88-unit assisted-living residential facility and a 42-bed intermediate/skilled nursing care facility.

The filing of the drafts kicks off a series of steps designed to identify any environmental concerns and ensure public input.

The next step is a 30-day public comment period. When that's completed, the city or state (depending on the project) reviews the assessment to determine if it will have a significant effect on the environment. If not, a final assessment that responds to all public comments is prepared and the project may proceed.

The public has 30 days from the notice of the finding of no impact to sue in court. A more detailed Environmental Impact Statement is only required if the project is determined to have an environmental effect.

In Palolo, plans for the 15-acre property at 2459 10th Ave. include increasing the number of residents from 60 to about 130 seniors and the adult daycare program from 15 to 30 people. The project will then have a total of 88 assisted-living units: 68 one-bedroom and 20 studio apartments.

There will also be a 40-bed intermediate/skilled nursing care residence, said Leigh-Wai Doo, chief executive officer at the home.

Proposed improvements include demolishing the existing Farm Memorial Hall and Victoria Ward Hall, restoring a previously used driveway, and providing additional parking areas.

The project will be done in phases and is expected to be completed in early 2008.

Doo said hundreds of seniors live in the areas of Kapahulu, Kaimuki and Palolo.

"When you combine that the greater Palolo area has one of the highest concentrations of seniors in the state and (Hawai'i) has one of the greatest shortages of nursing care beds in the United States, you see the need (for this) is extremely high," Doo said.

Tusitala Vista would be a nine-story building with 99 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom rental units on vacant land at 2423 and 2429 Ala Wai Blvd.

One unit will be for the resident manager and there will be a multipurpose room, laundry facilities, a private park with "victory" garden, 29 parking stalls and one loading stall.

Five of the units will be accessible to people with disabilities and all others will be adaptable. The complex will be for elderly residents (62 years and older) who earn at or below 50 percent of the area median income.

HHDC will also provide 36 public parking stalls on the mauka portion of the parcel, accessible by Ala Wai Boulevard, to be operated by the city.

Project manager Gary Furuta said Tusitala Vista will be either the seventh or eighth senior project for HHDC depending if it or its Piikoi Vista project is approved first.

"We've been focusing on the urban core because it is very popular with the services and jobs very convenient," Furuta said.

According to the assessments, both developers expect a finding of no significant environmental impact for their projects.