A bill that allows higher density in certain Honolulu neighborhoods could reduce the cost of development and create more affordable housing units.

A recently passed density bill could yield hundreds of new affordable housing units in Honolulu, reports Noelle Fujii-Oride in Hawaii Business Magazine. "As of Jan. 10, 2022, 17 applications for building permits and fee waivers under Bill 7 had been submitted, for a total of 467 affordable rental units, according to Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting. Three projects have been fully approved."
The bill, Fujii-Oride writes, "makes the construction of affordable rentals cheaper by allowing developers and landowners to build taller, wider and denser than normally allowed in areas that have apartment, apartment mixed-use and business mixed-use zoning." The bill, which applies to lots of 20,000 square feet or less, does not require off-street parking or loading zones, reducing building costs for developers. "At least 80% of the units in these buildings must be rented to households earning up to 100% of the area median income – about $120,800 for a family of four." Projects that qualify for Bill 7 exemptions also receive waivers on some permitting, property taxes, and wastewater facility fees.
Last year, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also signed a law creating a $10-million grant program for affordable housing developers. The first project to get underway under Bill 7, 311 Puuhue Place, will include 25 affordable units on the site of an abandoned single-family home. The developers hope the design can serve as a model for future projects and indicate ways to achieve economies of scale in affordable housing development in the city.
FULL STORY: Affordable Walk-up Apartments Are Coming Back, Thanks to Honolulu’s Bill 7

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie