4 Kaka'ako finalists selected
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
Three Hawai'i companies with extensive real-estate development experience were among four finalists selected by the state to compete for rights to remake 36 acres of state-owned land along the Kaka'ako waterfront.
A&B Properties Inc., Victoria Ward Ltd. and Stanford Carr Development made the short-list of contenders that also included a firm named Kewalo Nui Partners LLC.
The Hawai'i Community Development Authority, the agency overseeing development in Kaka'ako, announced the selections yesterday. The state agency in February received interest from 15 developers, some of which teamed up to submit six formal proposals.
Details of the proposals are being kept confidential by the state in its sealed-bid selection process until after it makes a final selection expected as early as September.
State guidelines suggest the project will create roughly 500,000 square feet of public and commercial space, 250,000 square feet of entertainment and retail space, about 300 residential units and parking.
Redeveloping, managing and possibly adding more slips to the 29-acre Kewalo boat harbor is also part of the project.
Excluded from contention yesterday was a proposal by D.G. "Andy" Anderson, the owner of Kaka'ako's John Dominis restaurant and former politician whose plan incorporated office, residential and possibly hotel units in thin buildings designed to look like "sails" attached above twin canoe-shaped hull structures.
Anderson won out in a similar selection process in the late 1990s for some of the same land development rights. But the state later rejected his proposal that included a 130-foot-high Ferris wheel surrounded by retail shops, entertainment and restaurants because of concerns over financial feasibility. Anderson, a former state senator and Republican Party leader, blamed politics for the decision.
Anderson yesterday said he was disappointed his proposal didn't make the cut.
KUD International, a firm that had recently tried to develop an aquarium on one of the sites, also appeared to be left out, though it is possible that the affiliate of Japanese construction giant Kajima Corp. may be partnering with one of the four finalists.
Some other interested competitors included giant Mainland entertainment-oriented retail developer The Mills Corp. and Forest City Development.
Finalists were hesitant to describe their plans because of the competitive nature of the process. Carr, largely known for residential projects including Kahealani on Maui and The Peninsula in Hawai'i Kai, said he felt like the "Seabiscuit" underdog competing against bigger firms.
"This is going to be a challenging endeavor and I hope we can bring out the best in urban renewal development that society and (the state redevelopment agency) will embrace," Carr said.
A&B Properties is the real-estate subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin Inc. involved in developing Maui's Wailea resort, Kunia Shopping Center, Kaka'ako luxury condominium Hokua and several other projects.
Victoria Ward operates the Kaka'ako retail complex Ward Centers and is owned by giant retail real-estate firm and Ala Moana Center owner General Growth Properties based in Chicago.
Kewalo Nui is a partnership involving Texas-based Hunt Building Corp., which is involved in redeveloping Navy property in Hawai'i.
Whichever developer is selected by the state as having the best plan will still have to negotiate a development agreement with the state. The state also will seek community input on the plan in deciding whether to execute the project. Construction could begin as early as fall 2006.
Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.
