Howard Hughes Corp. announces Kakaako development plans

It’s still very early in the game, but, as mentioned in our September issue, Honolulu residents can expect some big changes in the Kakaako/Ward area over the next decade that will make it a buyer’s hotspot—even more than it is now.

Yesterday, The Howard Hughes Corporation announced plans to create an urban master planned community in the area.

This redevelopment will include:

• High-rise residential towers with a mauka-makai orientation to preserve view corridors and showcase the breathtaking views.
• Small tower footprints with fewer units per floor to be more intimate.
• New buildings along Ala Moana Boulevard will be pulled back from the street, providing space for landscape and water features to bring the park and ocean across the street and into the community.
• Ward Village will also engage innovative design teams and employ sustainable design strategies to reduce energy and water use. They intend to create an energetic environment, or mindset, to encourage people to walk or bike.

When complete, Ward Village will double its retail, dining and entertainment space. The increased space will also allow opportunities for existing tenants to relocate as development occurs.

The project will start with four components on four separate blocks: two mixed-use residential towers, one reserved housing tower and the renovation of the IBM building, a portion ofwhich will serve as the information and sales center for Ward Village.

Last month, The Howard Hughes Corporation announced that Pier 1 Imports and Nordstrom Rack are relocating to Phase Two of the Ward Village Shops, currently under construction, which enables the development of a mixed-use tower on the block currently occupied by Pier 1 Imports. A second tower is planned on the parking lot across from Ward Entertainment Center fronting Ala Moana Blvd. The reserved housing project will be located at the mauka and Ewa corner of Ward Ave. and Halekauwila St.

The Howard Hughes Corporation anticipates breaking ground on the first phase in 2014, with an expected completion in 2016.

For more information and more details on the history of this development, visit: www.avisionforward.com.