Hawaii Housing Authority and Highridge Costa Start 2,400-Unit Mayor Wright Rebuild

Construction crews began work on Phase 1A of the Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment on Thursday. The project is the first step in replacing a nearly 75-year-old public housing complex in Honolulu's Kalihi-Palama neighborhood. State officials and community leaders gathered at the 15-acre site to mark the start of what they describe as the largest public housing project in Hawaii's history.

The Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority and developer Highridge Costa are leading the effort to rebuild the complex, which sits near downtown Honolulu bounded by King Street, Liliha Street and Vineyard Boulevard. The new development will include more than 2,400 rental units ranging from studios to five-bedroom homes. These units will be distributed across 10 towers and will include public housing, condominiums for sale and commercial space.

Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the housing authority, stated that the groundbreaking is about more than just construction. He said, "It's not simply about breaking ground. It is about breaking barriers." Ouansafi emphasized that the state must move beyond past methods to solve future housing issues. He added that public housing should not be considered second class and that residents deserve safe, modern homes in areas where poverty is not concentrated.

The project aims to serve a broader range of incomes than the original complex. More than half of the units will be reserved for tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income. Later phases will extend eligibility to households earning up to 100% of the area median income, which is approximately $150,000 a year for a family of four. The new development is designed to hold seven times as many homes as the current site.

The housing authority estimates the cost of Phase 1A at $333 million. A 2017 state estimate for the entire project placed the total cost at $1.3 billion. The site will also feature four acres of public parks and recreational space. The design ensures the complex will be within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station.

Gov. Josh Green described the project as central to the state's housing strategy, noting that stable housing helps people focus on education, food security and health. Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, praised the state for undertaking a project of this scale. He described the effort as building a legacy. Current residents displaced by the construction are being relocated and will have priority to return when their units are ready.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi linked the project to the upcoming Skyline rail line, calling the combination historic. The first building is scheduled to open in 2029. The full redevelopment is expected to take 15 years to complete.