THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF HONOLULU
2500 Pali Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
(808)595-4047
At Congregational meetings the following  resolutions were passed or reaffirmed:

Aloha SJC-SC,

It has been a busy two days for affordable housing at the City Council. Two items:

(1) Reso 10-38 for a City Office of Housing

On Wednesday afternoon 9/1, Council approved Reso 10-38 by a vote of 6-yes to 3-excused to put the City Charter amendment on the ballot to create a city Office of Housing. Remember, FACE started this initiative with a housing Action in Honolulu Hale in November 2009, prompting Donovan Dela Cruz to introduce Reso 10-38. After seven months of oppostion from two mayors, the resolution is now on the ballot. When we voters approve the amendment this coming November, then we will have a new city Office of Housing for coherent policy to help preserve existing and create more affordable housing and to alleviate homelessness.

(2) The Sale of All City-Owned Affordable Housing

On Thursday morning 9/2, at Rod Tam's invitation, the mayor's Project Management Office updated the City Council Planning Cmte (Romy Cachola & Rod Tam present, Ikaika Anderson excused) on proposed plans for the city's affordable housing portfolio.

In summary, the following are the city's Considerations:

-preserve affordable housing status and number of units at the same levels of affordability,

-minimize disruption to residents,

-bring more partners to the table,

-reduce the city's bond debt and negative impact to cash flow,

-transition (sell) all proprties,

-ensure good value to the city.

The following are the city's Strategy Considerations:

-bundling properties into groups of 2-4

-provides better economies of scale for financing

-ensures all properties will transition (sell),

-HUD transition issues

-transfer of mortgages near the end of term.

The following are the city's Current Recommendations:

-transition HUD mortgages last,

-group similar income-level properties together in consolidated RFPs

-attracts different types of respondents

-accounts for different financing necessary,

-immediate focus on special situations

-split management (Manoa Gardens)

-nontraditional housing (Pauahi Hale).

The following is the city's Proposed Bundling Approach:

Pauahi Hale

Manoa Gardens

Batchelor's Quarters

Kanoa Apartments

West Loch Elderly

Winston Hale

Chinatown Gateway Plaza

Chinatown Manor

Harbor Village

Marin Tower

Kulana Nani

Westlake Apartments

In other words, the city plans to focus on Pauahi Hale and Manoa Gardens first and continue paying down HUD mortgages and hoping that market conditions improve to sell the remaining properties. There is still no timetable.

There was also discussion about "policy and intention lining up" to sell all buildings but keep all land under city ownership, to deposit Sale proceeds into our Affordable Housing Fund after paying off debt and HUD obligations, and to direct more CDBG money to housing.

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NOTE, this is our own unofficial SJC-SC communication of PROPOSED city plans. Rod Tam has requested that the city work with him to communicate officially with residents, which they have agreed to do. In fact, Reso 08-108 mandates that the city will do so! Until then, we recommend that you address questions to your City Council members. And you can always email the SJC-SC at SJC.Standing.Cmte@gmail.com.

Steve Lohse

499-5406

SJC-SC