As Downtown Honolulu Walmart Closes, Honolulu City Council Considers Bill To Ease Conversion Of Commercial Buildings To Housing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2023
AS DOWNTOWN HONOLULU WALMART CLOSES, HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS BILL TO EASE CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS TO HOUSING
HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI - As Walmart’s Fort Street Mall store closes on Friday, April 21, the Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that would make it easier to convert empty commercial spaces into housing.
Bill 21 (2023), introduced by Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, would provide flexibility for certain ventilation and lighting requirements, while still following international standards. Similar exemptions for office to residential conversions have already been provided for two Downtown Honolulu projects: 1132 Bishop Street and 1155/1159 Fort Street Mall. Bill 21 would increase the frequency of this practice.
“The idea of Walmart turning into a dark, hulking shell is terrifying. Crime in Chinatown is bad enough - empty space will only make it worse,” said Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam. ”We need solutions, and we need solutions now. That’s why I proposed Bill 21.”
The bill received support from a number of housing advocates, including Housing Hawaiʻi’s Future and Hawaiʻi YIMBY. It was also supported by the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP).
Bill 21 will continue to be refined over the course of two more zoning committee meetings and two more full council meetings passed first reading and is currently in the committee on Zoning.
Dos Santos-Tam represents City Council District 6, which spans from Kakaʻako to Kalihi, and includes portions of Kakaʻako, Chinatown, Downtown, Punchbowl, Papakōlea, Pauoa Valley, Nu‘uanu, Iwilei, Liliha, ‘Ālewa Heights, Kalihi and Kalihi Valley.
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