StarAdvertiser-article

December 3, 2013

Opportunity exists to make Kailua livable and affordable

By Mariko Mura Davidson

Kailua is at a crossroads.

Will it become a big-box town with lots of traffic and no soul? Or will it preserve its unique character and small-town charm?

The change in landownership to Alexander & Baldwin provides a renewed opportunity to address issues affecting Kailua today: an increasingly unbalanced commercial market, traffic congestion and lack of affordability.

Residents and visitors alike love Kailua because of its unique sense of place, and local businesses play a big role. Travelers are increasingly drawn to "niche" tourism experiences that highlight a destination's unique characteristics. Too heavy a focus on national chains diminishes the very power that draws people to Kailua. Furthermore, locally owned businesses can have a larger impact on the local economy than national chains headquartered far away.

A&B could support alternative activities that support the local economy such as:

» Developing an incubation space where local entrepreneurs can pay subsidized rental rates to help jump-start their business;

» Holding temporary "pop-up" or other special events that highlight local businesses;

» Organizing local business owners to develop a shared marketing strategy.

As Kailua grows in popularity and population, so does its congestion. With its flat terrain and compact commercial center, the town could be a model for safe pedestrian and bicycle transportation. Kaneohe Ranch started to improve the pedestrian environment, but there is still much work to be done. People are afraid to ride their bicycles. Drivers are afraid of accidentally hitting cyclists. Residents complain of congestion and worry about more visitors.

Traffic-calming measures such as dedicated bicycle paths, widened sidewalks, narrowed roads and dense, centralized parking would benefit residents and visitors alike by increasing safe multimodal options. Longer term, A&B could work with government to establish more frequent Kailua-routed buses — like increasing the 85 Express to serve students and employees of University of Hawaii-Manoa.

These actions would support A&B, too. A 2012 Brookings Institute study demonstrated walkable and bikeable areas actually perform better economically — from increased property values, to higher retail revenues. Cities and communities across the United States are transforming their streets to capture the value of development that allows people to walk, bike or take mass transit.

Bottom line: When more people walk (or bike or bus), fewer people drive. More mobility options equal more freedom.

While discussing some of Kailua's most pressing challenges, it would be a mistake to forget housing. The majority of Kailua's housing stock is in single-family housing, with the cost prohibitive to even middle-income families. Multifamily housing has become increasingly rare, with even fewer affordable housing options. The lucky squeeze multiple generations into a single-family home; the less fortunate move.

Kailua should use this opportunity to reconsider mixed-use development and build more affordable housing options. The town center could be developed to include multifamily units to support the needs of young professionals, new families or the elderly on fixed incomes. With more value created in the town center by added residential units, this would also support A&B's bottom line.

However, without a partnership between A&B and the residents of Kailua, these ideas will be just that: opinions without action. Developments with community buy-in are more stable, secure and profitable. Improvement for Kailua town requires real participation: discussion, listening and action from both sides.

Let us seize this opportunity to address the challenges facing Kailua today to create a walkable and bikeable town, with a healthy local economy, where families can afford to live.

In partnership with the residents, A&B could lead this charge with both the community and shareholders coming out on top.