Kulamalu Affordable Housing Proposed

Kulamalu, Pukalani. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The county Department of Housing and Human Concerns is proposing the construction of a 64-unit affordable housing project in Pukalani.

The Kulamalu project is proposed for construction on more than four acres of land, bounded by ʻŌhiʻa Kū Street and ʻAʻapueo Parkway, and located west of the Kula Highway.

The project calls for the construction of seven two-story residential buildings, between 128 and 133 parking stalls, and a multi-purpose building for laundry, office, and meeting space, according to project documents.

View of Longs from the project site. Photo Credit: Clifford Planning and Architecture LLC. June 20, 2013, courtesy DOH/OEQC/Draft Environmental Assessment.

Each of the residential units would vary in size from 592 to 812 square feet.

The county filed a Draft Environmental Assessment for the project, which estimates costs to be $9 million, with partial funding coming from the Housing and Urban Development agency.

The document notes that the project is being undertaken in response to the demand for affordable multifamily housing on Maui.

“Maui’s population is anticipated to continue to grow at a rate of 2.2% per year, outpacing housing supply, resulting in approximately 10,845 units of unmet housing demand,” according to state and county studies referenced in the document.

The proposed project site consists of an open, undeveloped area that was subject to previous extensive grading for the Kulamalu Project in 1997.

Construction for the new affordable housing component is slated to begin in the fall of 2014, pending approvals.

A 30 day period for public comment runs through March 10, 2014, and should be addressed to the following:

• County of Maui, Department of Housing and Human Concerns, c/o Jo-Ann Ridao, 2200 Main Street, Suite 546, Wailuku, HI 96793; and
• R.M. Towill Corporation, c/o Chester Koga, 2024 North King Street, Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96819-3494.