HANAMA‘ULU — Jessica Calves and Sharon Dosono, both under 20 years of age, are getting a great start on life as they were named as occupants for one of the 40 units in the $6.8 million Kalepa Village, Phase 2
HANAMA‘ULU — Jessica Calves and Sharon Dosono, both under 20 years of age, are getting a great start on life as they were named as occupants for one of the 40 units in the $6.8 million Kalepa Village, Phase 2 project that was dedicated Monday morning.
Dennis Nakahara, president of the Kaua‘i Housing Development Corp. (KHDC), explained that these two women had the highest lottery number that qualified for a unit out of the 199 participant-applicants that applied for the 40 new units available.
“There is an acute need for this type of housing on Kaua‘i, and we are 100 percent leased,” Nakahara told the group of local and state dignitaries that gathered at the Hanama‘ulu project site.
State Sen. Gary Hooser, in his comments to the gathering, said that the dedication of these affordable rental units is good for not 40, but 80 of Kaua‘i’s families. The 40 that were pre-qualified for renting the new units will open up the rental market for an additional 40 families and individuals seeking rentals, Hooser said.
Wanda Shibata, one of the KHDC Board members attending the ceremonies, noted that she had done a tour through one of the three-bedroom units and was impressed with the work done to bring the units into compliance with ADA standards.
Another interesting feature, Shibata said, was the availability of water-conserving washing machines, gas appliances, as well as solar panels on the roofs making these units very energy efficient.
The project was developed by Kalepa Village Partners, KHDC, general partner, with assistance from the county of Kaua‘i, and made possible through the federal and state low-income housing tax credit program which provided equity financing for the project.
The first phase of the project was opened during the administration of former mayor Maryanne Kusaka. For the new phase, Mayor Bryan Baptiste got the honor of undoing the symbolic maile lei.
Baptiste acknowledged the role of Kusaka and former county housing director Mattie Yoshioka in developing the project.
“Kalepa Village Phase Two provides new rental housing for very low income families,” said John Frazier, executive director of the Kauai Housing Development Corporation. “The rapidly rising rental rates on Kaua‘i have made finding an affordable place to live on Kaua‘i very difficult, if not impossible, for most of these families.”
Rents at the project range from $495 for a single-bedroom apartment to $695 for a three-bedroom unit.
The county provided a ground lease at nominal rate and provided a portion of the construction and permanent financing by way of the HUD HOME program.
Additionally, the project got assistance from First Hawaiian Bank for the construction loan, the Hawai‘i Investors for Affordable Housing for the tax credit equity financing, the Hawai‘i community Reinvestment Corp., for its long-term loan, project architects Kober Hanssen Mitchell Architects, Primatech Construction whose workers were busy finalizing the finishing touches on the units during the ceremonies, and the Hawai‘i Affordable Properties, Inc. who serves as the leasing and managing agent for the property.
KHDC Executive Director is John Frazier, and board members include Nakahara, Shibata, Mike Murakoshi, Dimples Kano, Marion Penhallow, Roy Katsuda of Hale Mahaoulu, Maui, Aletha Kaohi, Tom Shigemoto, and Marc Ventura.
The dedication ceremony was officiated by Rev. Wayne Vidinha.
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
