By Wendy Osher

More than 150 applications have been received for the Waiʻale ʻElua workforce housing subdivision planned for construction on land north of the Waikapū Gardens subdivision in Central Maui.

Heidi Bigelow R(S), project manager for the subdivision tells Maui Now that applicant review will take place this month, with a lottery planned at the end of April or in early May.

“Due to the volume of applications we have received, we may hold separate lotteries for the different income groups. Once the date, time, & location of the lottery(ies) is determined, applicants will be notified and are invited (but are not required) to attend,” said Bigelow.

The bulk of the applicants have a gross annual household income of less than 100% of median income. A moderate number of applications from households earning between 101% and 120% of median income were also received.  The fewest applications were from households earning between 121% and 140% of median income.

“After the lottery or lotteries are complete, we will be meeting with individually with the applicants, in order of their placement in the lottery, for lot selection,” said Bigelow.  “We hope to complete this process by early June.”

Home construction is scheduled to begin in May of this year and will continue through 2020.

The 70 unit project, brokered by West Maui Land Company, Inc., is slated for development on land north of Waikapū Gardens, bordered by Kokololio Street to the South and Waiʻale Road to the East.

Waiʻale ʻElua is an income qualified project for Maui’s workforce who meet eligibility criteria established by the County of Maui.

According to the project website, the infrastructure for Waiʻale ʻElua will be completed in early 2019, and homes construction will begin when the infrastructure is complete. The project reportedly includes nine homes to be built and sold by FABMAC Homes, Inc., with the balance will be constructed by Hope Builders LLC and sold by Waiʻale Road 201 LLC.

Lot sizes reportedly start at 4,000 square feet, with homes to include three or four bedrooms, all with two-car garages, according to the Waiʻale ʻElua website.

Eligibility criteria includes, but is not limited to a gross annual family income and assets which do not exceed 140% of the County’s median income as established by HUD; and no ownership or joint ownership that was 50% or more of a property in fee or leasehold in the US for three years before submittal of the Buyer Application.

According to the Waiʻale Workforce Housing Application, there are:

• six three-bedroom homes ranging in price from $310,000 to $326,000 available for families with a maximum household income of $65,120 (<80% HUD income);
• three four-bedroom homes available at $ 455,000 for families with a maximum household income of $81,400 (<100% HUD income);
• 12 four-bedroom homes available at $ 516,000 for families with a maximum household income of $81,400 (<100% HUD income);
• seven three-bedroom homes available at $ 538,400 for families with a maximum household income of $97,680 (<120% HUD income);
• 14 four-bedroom homes available at $ 619,000 for families with a maximum household income of $97,680 (<120% HUD income); and
• 28 four bedroom homes available at $ 650,000 for families with a maximum household income of $113,960 (< 140% HUD income).

Upon completion, this 100% workforce housing project will offer 70 house/lots to qualified buyers.

Deeds for Residential Workforce Homes require that homebuyers agree to an owner-occupancy provision which states that they shall own and occupy the home for a period of at least 10 years as their primary residence before considering sale.

Waiʻale Affordable Housing project site facing west from Waiʻale Road. Image courtesy Bagoyo Development Consulting Group – Application for Affordable Housing Subdivision.

Waiʻale ʻElua project map. Courtesy image.

Waiʻale ʻElua project map. Courtesy image.