West Kāwili Street Senior-Veteran Housing - Part-58-EA November 29 2021 (2)

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Environmental Assessment Determinations and Compliance Findings for HUD -assisted Projects 24 CFR Part 58 West Kawili Street SeniorNeteran Housing The proposed project includes the construction of 92 new affordable senior rental housing units, 175 parking stalls, and an approximately 7,342 square foot community center located on Tax Map Key (TMK) (3) 2-4-057:030, and access easements at Ululani Street granted to EAH Housing on portions of TMK: (3) 2-4-057:031, Waiakea Ahupua`a, South Hilo District, Island of Hawaii. The total project footprint will be 102,011 square feet of the 244,589 square foot lot. Unit sizes will range from 778 SF to 924 SF. Eight two story buildings will contain the 92 rental units. The eight rental housing buildings are grouped in sets of two buildings that run adjacent to the north and east sides of the project parcel, and are conjoined by shared elevators and laundry areas. The housing buildings are surrounded by an abundance of open green space that include several community gardens with seating areas, a dog park, and a covered walkway providing shelter from heat and sun exposure as well as circulation between the green areas, the residential buildings, the community center, and the parking lots (see Figure 3). The project is expected to begin construction in March of 2022 and begin occupancy in July of 2023, reaching full occupancy by early 2024. This timeline is contingent upon building permit approvals and closing financing in early 2022. Statement of Purpose and Need for the Proposal [40 CFR 1508.9(b)]: The purpose for establishing the West Kawili Street Senior Veteran Housing facility is to provide much needed affordable housing for Hawaii County's growing senior citizen population, particularly military members, retirees, veterans, and their families and dependents. Few housing options currently exist on the island, especially in the urban center of Hilo, where the majority of senior and veteran services offices are located. The objective of the proposed project is to better serve veterans and military members/retirees and their families by providing affordable senior housing within the city center, where services and entitlements available for veterans and their families can be easily obtained from various state, federal, and nongovernmental service providers. The project activities address several priorities stated in the County of Hawaii 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, including housing supply for households earning less than 80% of median income, public facilities and services for seniors, and job creation for economic development. The historical and demographic background of the need for this project, and for more affordable senior housing broadly, is described in more detail below. Existing Conditions and Trends [24 CFR 58.40(a)]: The 76 million American baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 began to celebrate their 60th birthdays every day beginning January 1, 2006. Hawai`i's population of 1.41 million (census.gov, 2019) has one of the nation's fastest-growing populations of senior citizens, with approximately 19 percent of the population age 65 or older. Moreover, there has been a dramatic increase in older individuals re- locating to Hawaii County for retirement. Projections show exponential growth in the elderly population in the coming years as baby boomers reach retirement and the elderly live longer healthier lives. Seniors served by this project are defined as individuals at or above 62 years of age, and families or households whose head, cohead, spouse, or sole member is a person who is at or above 62 years of age, including their live-in aides. Between the 2014-2018, it is estimated that around 105,563 military veterans resided in Hawaii. State and federal information on the number of veterans who receive disability benefits provided by the County, State and the federal VA show that more than 112,000 veterans received benefits in 2017 (https://www.va.gov/vetdata/docs/SpecialReports/State_Summan*es Hawaii.pdf).