HANAMA‘ULU — Almost 10 years after work began on the Kalepa Village affordable housing complex, Gov. Linda Lingle has released $1 million to wrap up the fourth and final phase of construction. Forty new units will be built next year,
HANAMA‘ULU — Almost 10 years after work began on the Kalepa Village affordable housing complex, Gov. Linda Lingle has released $1 million to wrap up the fourth and final phase of construction.
Forty new units will be built next year, ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. The fourth and final phase of construction should begin in March of next year and wrap up in November, bringing the total number of units to 180.
“Our administration continues to make progress in improving Hawai‘i’s affordable housing industry, thanks to a shared commitment on the part of public and private partners,” Lingle said in a statement.
According to Lingle’s spokesman Russell Pang, the $1 million was appropriated for Kalepa Village in 2005. The governor approved it in December of that year, but the funds were deferred pending the planning of the third phase.
This is the second time that the state has awarded money for affordable housing, according to Gary Mackler, development coordinator for Kaua‘i County Housing Agency. The state released $2 million in 1994 as part of a disaster capital improvement project after Hurricane ‘Iniki. The money was used to start Kalepa Village to help with affordable rentals, Mackler said.
The Kalepa Village project site was acquired by Kaua‘i County in 1994. The first phase was finished in 1997, providing 60 rental units and a multi-purpose building. The second phase was completed in 2004, offering an additional 40 rental units. A third phase is expected to come online in March 2008, providing another 40 units.
Applications are currently being accepted for those 40 apartments, Mackler said. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Jan. 15. The lottery will be held at 10 a.m. Feb.1.
“The lottery will establish the order in which the manager reviews the applications,” Mackler said. “The lottery gives more people a chance and access to the units.”
Mackler said he is not sure how many applications his office has received to date.
In a prepared statement, Mayor Bryan Baptiste said, “I am pleased that the people of Kaua‘i will benefit from the collaboration between government and private entities on Kalepa Village and other affordable housing projects.”
Construction financing for the last phase will be provided by a number of sources, including the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The HOME federal assistance is provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is the largest federal block grant, with contributions of more than $2 billion each year to state and local governments.
Phase 3 specs
Cost
• One bedroom, one bath: $650 per month
• Two bedroom, two bath: $750 per month
Features
• One- and two-bedroom apartments feature on-site resident manager, appliances, recreation center, washer and dryer in each unit, parking, solar-heated water, gas stove and dryer. Tenants pay their own electric and gas bills. There are units available for the hearing, visually and mobility impaired.
Income limits
• One person: $27,780
• Two people: $31,740
• Three people: $35,700
• Four people: $39,660
(Additional requirements may apply for eligibility.)
Deadline
• 4 p.m. Jan. 15. Lottery at 10 a.m., Feb. 1.
• Applications available at: Kalepa Village, 4535 Kalepa Circle, Lihu‘e, HI 96766 or by calling 246-4481.
