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the overall project design. You have to understand what kind of building is going to be there,
<br />what it looks like, where the parking area is, how to create berms, or for any visual blockage, and
<br />you plan the landscaping around the structures. And also that would be the time to survey which
<br />are the trees that need to be cut down, removed, and rebuilt. I mean replant. So, I see that this is
<br />a project. I mean the landscaping itself is not a separate easel. It really cannot be done at this
<br />point because the design is only conceptual, and once you have exactly where the buildings are,
<br />the height, where the windows are, then you do the landscape design. This is the correct way of
<br />doing it, you know. And also, in terms of timing, I did agree hundred percent with Mrs. Nishida
<br />that I would walk the space with her once the construction is just about finished when we start to
<br />do landscaping, we would survey what are the existing trees in back of her property that need to
<br />be kept or need to be removed, and I agreed that I would grow Arica palms as she suggested to
<br />fill the gaps. I would agree to that, but not today. It’s too early to do that because we don’t
<br />know exactly where things are now, and then after the building is completed just before we do
<br />landscaping, that would be the time to do it. And already we do it in writing. Although I still
<br />question you know what a 100 percent because these are plants, can’t control them. Ok, in fact,
<br />one attendee, I think her name is Doreen Friberg, she disagreed with Mrs. Nishida that there
<br />should be 100 percent blockage. She said she didn’t want that. You know, so it’s not fair for
<br />Mrs. Nishida to speak for everybody else because they all have different ideas, but I did promise
<br />Mrs. Nishida I would do that for her. But anyone who think that they need something more than
<br />what is there now, and I also made the statement that I will be glad to meet with each of them if
<br />they come to me, but I won’t impose that condition on these people because, like I said, at least
<br />one person objected to that idea.
<br />
<br />Ok, like I said the last time, if this project, if this location has not been a--under the current a
<br />General Plan, and is prime for a, developing housing, I, and if affordable housing is needed, I
<br />really want do the project, ok? I mean, I don’t want to force on anything that is unreasonable.
<br />Now, this project, under the RM-1.1, 1.5, when you compare to the project that previously
<br />approved under 2.5, and I have a table to show, to compare the two projects. This project under
<br />RM-1.5, I intend to do affordable housing for the entire project, not just 20 percent or 25 percent
<br />to satisfy the—it’s the entire project. It’s anywhere between 60 to 100 percent AMI. Now, I was
<br />told if I’m correct for the last 30 years, no such project have ever built in Hilo. Maybe a small
<br />amount built on the Kona side, I’m not sure. You see project that are low income, which is
<br />between from zero to 50 percent, mostly 30 to 50 percent, but there is none 60 to 100 percent.
<br />From my research, in the State of Hawai‘i, ok, between 60 to 100 percent is the most needed.
<br />It’s the big gap that people are not doing. Either they do very low income or they want to go 140
<br />percent which is actually higher than the most affordability, ok? But it’s still so called still
<br />affordable. That’s why people do that so they can satisfy the 20 percent, right? And there’s a big
<br />gap for the 60 to 100 percent. These are the people who needed the housing most. They are the
<br />one who cannot afford market rate, but did not qualify for the low income. These are people that
<br />maybe your friends are—students, city workers, fireman, policeman, working families. This is a
<br />big gap, ok? Now, I own five or six properties in Hilo alone the last few years. I have two
<br />properties owned what in 30 years, are condos, supposed to be nice. One in Bayshore and one in
<br />right here, ok. I have no problem renting one bedroom. Of course, inexpensive, $1,100. I have
<br />no vacancy whatsoever because a lot of people asking for this kind of housing. You know
<br />$1,000 plus or minus. And they’re students. Half of those are students. Half maybe more than,
<br />less half are nurses to come here for six months, ok? They told me that it is not easy to find this
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