Permits sought for Waimanalo center addition
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
WAIMANALO — The state has initiated plans to build a community center at its Waimanalo Weinberg Village and is asking the city for building exemptions that would keep the cost down.
At any given time there are more than 60 children at the facility, and a community center could provide space for study hall, a computer lab and preschool activities, said Sandra Miyoshi, homeless program administrator for the Department of Human Services.
Anytime meetings or classes are held, people must squeeze into a small office space or the laundry room, Miyoshi said. Sometimes tents are used, but something more permanent is needed, she said. "We recognize it was short-sighted to not have a community gathering place where enrichment activities can take place," she said.
Holly Holowack, program manager at the facility, said as many as 45 people crowd into a converted living room for required community meetings.
The facility recently received 18 free computers from the CTA technology consulting firm, along with lessons for the children, but because of space limitations there is room to set up only six computers, Holowack said.
The city had granted exemptions for the facility in 1993 to speed up the project on a 15-acre, state-owned parcel. Fourteen structures were moved to the site for transitional rental units for homeless families. Volunteers transformed the buildings into 30 housing units.
The exemptions included the requirement to place the facility's electrical utility lines underground and construct a gutter and sidewalk along Saddle City Road opposite the village.
The exemptions expired in 1998 and the state now wants to make those exemptions permanent, said Wayne Nakamoto, with Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawai'i, which owns the property.
In its draft environmental assessment, the state said the cost of the improvements is not justified in terms of community benefit. The state reasoned that all surrounding property is served by overhead wires and that the gutter and sidewalk would likely be unused because of their location.
The estimated cost for placing the wires underground is $200,000, plus $20,000 for the sidewalk and gutter. The proposed 2,200 square-foot community center is estimated to cost $336,000, but construction has been delayed because of lack of money, Nakamoto said, adding that the state will still try to get city approval of the project and an environmental assessment.
"If we get the money ... we will have the approved environmental assessment," he said.
Miyoshi said money for the Waimanalo Weinberg Village community center was redirected to repair the buildings, which were old to begin with and now need attention.
In its 10 years of existence the village has housed 280 families, helping a total of 1,197 people. Families can stay for no longer than two years. During their stay adults are able to get services that help them train for and find jobs.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
