Centre Urban project would create 72 Waikiki workforce housing units – Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Report on Affordable Workforce Housing Development in Waikiki and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview

Centre Urban Real Estate is undertaking a development initiative to construct 72 units of affordable workforce housing across two sites in Waikiki. This project, supported by the Waikiki Neighborhood Board and the City, directly addresses the local housing crisis by transforming underutilized and derelict properties into valuable community assets.

• 1615 Ala Wai Blvd.: A 40-unit mid-rise on a city-owned site, formerly derelict, which will be leased to the developer for 75 years. This redevelopment is a key urban renewal effort.
• 2533 Kaneloa Road: A 32-unit mid-rise on a fee-simple property acquired by the developer.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This initiative makes a significant contribution to SDG 11 by focusing on inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban development.

1. Target 11.1 (Adequate, Safe, and Affordable Housing): The project directly creates 72 affordable housing units for households earning 60% to 80% of the area median income. By setting rents approximately 25% below market rates, it ensures access to adequate housing for the local workforce.
2. Urban Renewal and Land Use: The transformation of the long-vacant and blighted property at 1615 Ala Wai Blvd. into productive housing exemplifies sustainable urban regeneration. This action mitigates negative environmental and social impacts of derelict urban spaces.
3. Target 11.2 (Sustainable Transport Systems): The development is strategically located to encourage residents to walk or use bikeshare programs to commute to major employment centers like Hilton Hawaiian Village and Ala Moana Center. This reduces reliance on private vehicles, thereby decreasing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The provision of workforce housing is intrinsically linked to SDG 8, which promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

• Supporting the Local Economy: By providing affordable housing options near major employment hubs in Waikiki’s hospitality and retail sectors, the project helps attract and retain essential workers. This stability in the workforce is crucial for the continued growth of the local tourism-based economy.
• Improving Livelihoods: Access to affordable housing reduces the financial burden on workers, allowing them to allocate resources to other essential needs and improve their overall quality of life, contributing to a more resilient and productive workforce.

Addressing Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

The project specifically targets the “missing middle” demographic, directly addressing SDG 10 by reducing inequalities within the community.

• Equitable Housing Access: The initiative provides housing for individuals and families who earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing but cannot afford market-rate properties in Waikiki. This closes a critical gap in the housing market and promotes greater social and economic equity.
• Inclusive Community Development: By ensuring that essential workers can afford to live in the community they serve, the project fosters a more diverse and inclusive urban environment, preventing the economic displacement of middle-income households.

Public-Private Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

The successful implementation of this project is a model for SDG 17, which emphasizes the importance of partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

• City and Developer Collaboration: The project is the result of a strategic partnership between the City and Centre Urban Real Estate. The City facilitated the acquisition of the 1615 Ala Wai Blvd. property through condemnation and is providing a long-term lease, while Centre Urban provides the development expertise and capital to deliver the affordable housing units.

Project Timelines and Community Response

The development has a clear timeline and has garnered significant community and municipal support, despite some concerns.

1. 2533 Kaneloa Road: Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with an estimated completion within 10 to 12 months.
2. 1615 Ala Wai Blvd.: Construction is targeted to commence in late 2026, with completion expected in 2027.

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board has unanimously supported the proposals. While some community members raised concerns regarding limited parking and ensuring the units are allocated to Waikiki workers, the overarching sentiment from board members and city officials is positive, praising the effort to address blight and the critical need for workforce housing.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article addresses the provision of affordable housing for lower-to-middle income households, which is a key component in preventing poverty and ensuring access to basic services.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The project aims to provide “workforce housing,” directly linking affordable living conditions to the ability of workers to maintain jobs in the local economy, particularly in the hospitality industry.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By targeting the “missing middle” (households earning 60% to 80% of the area median income), the project aims to reduce the economic inequality that prices essential workers out of the communities they serve.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – This is the most prominent SDG, as the article focuses on creating affordable housing, redeveloping blighted urban areas, and promoting sustainable urban living by encouraging walking and bike-sharing.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The project is a clear example of a public-private partnership, with the city of Honolulu and the developer, Centre Urban Real Estate, collaborating to achieve a common goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. The entire article is centered on this target, detailing plans to build “72 affordable workforce housing units” for a specific income bracket to address the “housing crisis.”
  • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management. The project involves redeveloping a “long-derelict” and blighted property (“1615 Ala Wai Blvd.”) into productive housing, which is a core component of sustainable urbanization. The Waikiki Neighborhood Board’s unanimous support also points to a participatory planning process.
• SDG 1: No Poverty
  • Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services… The project provides access to the basic service of housing for individuals and families who are economically vulnerable to high market rents.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… The article highlights that a lack of affordable housing is a barrier to filling job openings in Waikiki hotels. By providing workforce housing, the project supports the local labor market and helps workers access and maintain decent jobs.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all… irrespective of… economic or other status. The project specifically targets an economic group being excluded from the local housing market, aiming to “fill the missing middle” and allow them to live in the community where they work.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article describes a partnership where the city acquired the land and selected “Centre Urban as the city’s development partner.” The city will lease the land to the developer, demonstrating a clear public-private collaboration to achieve housing goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 11.1 (Affordable Housing):
  • Number of affordable housing units created: The article specifies the project will create “72 affordable workforce housing units” (32 at one site, 40 at another).
  • Proportion of income spent on housing: The article states the units are for households earning “60% to 80% of area median income” and that “Rents are expected to be 25% below Waikiki market rates.” These figures can be used to measure the level of affordability provided.
  • Target income levels: The specific income brackets are mentioned: “$63,840 to $85,120 for individuals and $91,200 to $121,600 for a family of four.” This is a direct indicator of the population being served.
• For Target 11.3 (Sustainable Urbanization):
  • Land consumption rate: The project redevelops a “long-derelict” and “vacant” property. The indicator here is the conversion of blighted or unused urban land (in this case, two sites) into productive use, which is a measure of sustainable land use.
• For Target 17.17 (Partnerships):
  • Number of public-private partnerships for sustainable development: The article details one specific partnership between the City of Honolulu and Centre Urban Real Estate for the development of affordable housing.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: staradvertiser.com