Hawaii breaks ground on 2,400-unit housing overhaul

State officials and community leaders broke ground on Thursday for the first phase of the Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment. The project is the largest public housing construction in Hawaii's history. The 15-acre site is located in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood near downtown Honolulu.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority and developer Highridge Costa are replacing the existing complex, which has operated for nearly 75 years. The current site is bounded by King Street, Liliha Street, and Vineyard Boulevard. The new development will contain seven times as many homes as the current facility. It will serve a mix of income levels rather than exclusively very low-income residents.

Plans call for more than 2,400 new rental homes. These units range from studios to five-bedroom apartments. The development also includes public housing units, condominiums for sale, and commercial space across ten towers. More than half of the units are reserved for tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income. Later phases will extend eligibility to households earning up to 100% of that income, which is approximately $150,000 annually for a family of four.

Current residents displaced by construction are being relocated and will have priority to return. Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the housing authority, stated the project aims to break barriers. He noted that the state cannot address future housing problems using past approaches. Ouansafi said public housing should never mean second-class housing.

Gov. Josh Green described the project as central to the state's housing strategy. He said housing provides health, allowing people to focus on education, food security, and health care. Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, called the project a legacy. He praised the state for taking on an initiative of this size.

The housing authority estimates Phase 1A will cost $333 million. The state estimated the entire project at $1.3 billion in 2017. The development will include four acres of public parks and recreational space. It is designed to be within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi tied the project to the arrival of the Skyline rail line.

The first building is scheduled to open in 2029. The full redevelopment is expected to take 15 years. Further information is available at mayorwrighthomes.com.