HANAMA‘ULU — Within hours of Friday’s dedication marking the completion of the fourth and final phase of Kalepa Village in Hanama‘ulu, four families moved in over the weekend, while the rest of the families who were selected in a lottery
HANAMA‘ULU — Within hours of Friday’s dedication marking the completion of the fourth and final phase of Kalepa Village in Hanama‘ulu, four families moved in over the weekend, while the rest of the families who were selected in a lottery will move in over the next few months, according to a press release from the county’s Housing Agency.
“We are very pleased that 40 Kaua‘i families now have an affordable place to live in,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the release. “This is another example of how partnerships between federal, state and county governments and private entities can really benefit our people.”
He noted that seven families who were living in transitional housing facilities, Ka Uapo, the former Lihu‘e Courthouse, and Mana‘olana, located next to Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Inc. headquarters, are among those who will soon be moving to Kalepa Village.
“The late Mayor Bryan Baptiste would have been so happy to see that the programs he championed helped to lay the foundation for permanent housing for these families,” said the mayor.
KEO Chief Executive Officer MaBel Fujiuchi also expressed excitement for the families that her organization worked closely with over the years to prepare them for permanent housing.
“It’s so rewarding to see our clients progress from being homeless to transitional housing, and then on to permanent housing. We truly share in their joy,” Fujiuchi said.
Kalepa Village is a 12-acre site that was purchased by the county in 1994 for $1.4 million and earmarked for the development of affordable rental units.
An O‘ahu firm, Kober Hanssen Mitchell Architects, was hired to design a housing project that would reflect the history of the area, where Lihu‘e Plantation workers lived in camp housing for over 100 years.
The first phase was completed in 1996, adding 60 rental units to Kaua‘i’s affordable housing inventory. The second phase of 40 units was finished in 2004, while the third phase with 40 units was completed in March of last year.
Other affordable housing projects currently on the drawing board are at various stages of development including:
— Courtyards at Waipouli, a Kaua‘i Lagoons affordable rental project, is slated for completion before the end of the year.
— Kaua‘i Lagoons’ second affordable housing project located on Haoa St. in Lihu‘e broke ground earlier this year. Thirty-one two-bedroom multi-family units will be built at the site and will be available for sale upon completion next year.
— Puhi Self-Help Project, the first and second phases are under construction and are expected to be completed by early next year. This will add 28 homes to Kaua‘i’s inventory.
— Pi‘ilani Mae Ke Kai, 80 lots are being built by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in this Anahola subdivision. Home construction is slated for 2009.
— ‘Ele‘ele I Luna, Phase II received tentative subdivision approval for the first increment of 34 lots with construction expected to begin in 2010. Homebuilding for the second and third increments, 45 and 27 lots respectively, will continue through 2018.
“Providing permanent affordable housing for our residents is a top priority for us. We are focusing a lot of effort in this regard,” said the mayor.
