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Kailua parking garage done deal
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer
After months of community debate and planning, Kaneohe Ranch Co. Ltd. and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation have decided to move forward and build a three-level parking garage behind the new Longs Drug Store in Kailua.
The project will add 238 stalls to the Windward business district, a number that is scaled back from the original plan introduced to the community in June that called for five levels of parking.
Construction is scheduled to begin next week and end in August.
Mitch D'Olier, president and chief executive officer of the Castle Foundation, which owns the property, and property manager Kaneohe Ranch would not reveal how much the project will cost to build.
"This plan allows us to provide an amenity that benefits both our retail merchants and local residents without affecting the small-town ambiance that makes Kailua special," D'Olier said.
The decision to build follows the Kailua Neighborhood Board's request to the city last month to withhold any approvals for the garage until any impact it may have is determined, said Donna Wong, Kailua Neighborhood Board member.
The board is concerned about traffic as well as construction effects, including whether any pile-driving is needed and if that could damage the property, Wong said, adding that D'Olier promised to do a traffic study.
The announcement to build the garage came as a surprise to Wong, although she said she had to reschedule two meetings with D'Olier this week.
Wong said the concern is that the new parking lot will cause increased traffic, making it necessary for added traffic lights and infrastructure at a cost to taxpayers.
"Even more of a concern in the long term is the change of the character of Kailua," she said. "We've done very well all this time without a parking structure and there's not been a demonstrated need."
D'Olier said he'll be able to answer all of Wong's concerns and is going to the Neighborhood Board meeting Thursday to discuss the traffic report for the the project.
The report says the intersections near the parking lot will operate at acceptable levels of service after the garage is built, he said. The study covered the intersections at Hahani Street and Kailua Road, and Hahani and Hekili Street.
Although D'Olier wouldn't reveal the cost, he said building the garage now instead of in phases when more parking is needed cuts costs and disruption to the community.
Under this plan, D'Olier said he will lease the top floor of the garage to McKenna Motors to offset some of the costs. The second floor will be for employees of area stores, who would pay to park there.
Store customers will not have to pay, he said.
The timing of the construction is based on a number of things, including the scheduled opening of the new Longs in June. Kaneohe Ranch wants construction completed by then.
The biggest impact is that it will free up 60 parking spaces for shoppers. In a Kaneohe Ranch news release, retailers expressed excitement about the project.
"Everyone knows the secret to a successful business is location, location, location," said Karon Chang of Jeff Chang Pottery of Kailua Village Shops. "But in Hawai'i it's location, parking, parking.
"Parking is imperative for Kailua businesses to succeed."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at 234-5266 or eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.
