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Improvement District 11 - Queen Street Improvements Project Cancelled
Because of an increase in the project's cost and lack of funding, and in response to the majority consensus of the stakeholders along Queen Street, the Authority has cancelled the Queen Street Improvements Project, or Improvement District 11 (ID-11). HCDA will also terminate all related contracts and proceed with rescinding the rules that established ID-11 and the property assessments.
ID-11 would have
consisted of the construction of roadway and infrastructure
improvements on Queen Street between Ward Avenue and Kamakee
Street. Construction on the project was to start in January 2007,
but on January 10, 2007 HCDA staff reported to the Authority that the
construction cost of the project has increased substantially.
This increase was due in large part to revisions that were made to the
construction plans as required by the City and County of
Honolulu. Due to the increase in project costs, and after
consultation with the Attorney General’s Office, staff recommended
canceling the existing construction contract and to solcit community’s
input on how HCDA should proceed with ID-11 or another
alternative.
HCDA staff met with the stakeholders on January 24.
The meeting was conducted in an “open-house” format, where people could
attend at their convenience between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00
p.m. and talk one-on-one with staff about the project. Meeting
notices and survey forms were also mailed to landowners, who were
assessed a portion of the ID-11 cost, and their lessees and also to
properties fronting Queen Street between Ward Avenue and Cooke
Street.
Generally, the consensus from the majority of attendees was that the project should be canceled, although there was acknowledgement that improvements are necessary on Queen Street. The majority, however, felt that individual property owners should not be assessed because they believe that the improvements benefit the general public as a whole and not only the tenants and landowners within the ID-11 assessment area.
Chairperson Michael Goshi stated that the Authority will continue to look at the best ways to address safety concerns on Queen Street with the input, participation, and support of the community.