Highridge Costa breaks ground on $333 million Kalihi housing phase

Highridge Costa and state officials began construction on the first phase of the Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment on Thursday. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of work on a 15-acre site in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood near downtown Honolulu. This project is the largest public housing redevelopment in Hawaii's history.

The new development will replace a nearly 75-year-old complex located between King Street, Liliha Street and Vineyard Boulevard. Plans call for more than 2,400 new rental homes, which is seven times the capacity of the current site. The buildout includes 10 towers containing studios, five-bedroom units, public housing, condominiums for sale and commercial space.

Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, stated that the milestone represents a shift in how the state addresses housing. "It's not simply about breaking ground. It is about breaking barriers," he said. He noted that the state cannot rely on past approaches to solve future housing problems and added that "Public housing should never mean second class housing."

Income restrictions will determine unit allocation. More than half of the units are reserved for tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income. Later phases will include households earning up to 100% of the area median income, which is approximately $150,000 annually for a family of four. Displaced current residents are being relocated and hold priority for return.

Gov. Josh Green linked the project to the state's housing strategy, stating, "Housing provides health." He explained that stable housing allows residents to focus on education, food security and health care. Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, called the initiative a legacy and praised the state for managing a project of this scale.

The housing authority estimates the cost of Phase 1A at $333 million. The state's 2017 estimate for the entire project stands at $1.3 billion. The development includes four acres of public parks and recreational space. It is designed to be within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi connected the project to the arrival of the Skyline rail line. The first building is scheduled to open in 2029, with the full redevelopment expected to take 15 years.