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Uncle Billy parcel as well as the Country Club parcel. As, you know, taking a small bite, smaller
<br /> bite of an area that is definitely blighted in terms of Uncle Billy's and the Country Club in the
<br /> context of the how that structure and, is occurring. So that was one discussion that occurred and
<br /> we had kind of suggested what we needed to do is get some help from the Corporation Counsel's
<br /> office to take a look at how that really works and whether that's something that we can really,
<br /> whether that's something that we can explore. And by doing the concept of request for proposal,
<br /> perhaps we will have the investors provide the monies to do that type of memorandum of
<br /> agreement. So that was one thought. The second thing that we had discussed as an agency is
<br /> that since we did develop that conceptual plan, that we was hoping that the General Plan
<br /> amendments that the Director, the Planning Director, would be initiating, would incorporate in
<br /> that General Plan, the amendments for the commercial and other aspects that have been outlined.
<br /> Because if we change the General Plan, that may facilitate investment in that, those areas that
<br /> have been identified as commercial. So in other words, we need to do the zoning in order to
<br /> facilitate the potential for people to invest. We don't actually, if the government doesn't zone
<br /> the land, then we can't expect investors to come and invest in the areas that have been identified
<br /> as commercial. So I wanted to at least put that out and as a summary of some of the discussions
<br /> we've had at the agency level. So we welcome this open discussion because quite frankly, we do
<br /> not have the authority to raise money and we really are at the, we're really dependent on whether
<br /> or not we can initiate these request for proposals, but obviously we don't want as an agency, to
<br /> do something that's not in concert with the executive's view of this area. Because if we're
<br /> working together, it'll be far better to facilitate something getting done than if we are paddling in
<br /> the opposite directions. So I just wanted to venture that. And I'm opening it up for anybody
<br /> else's comments or discussion. Or you guys can all agree with me and we can go home.
<br /> (Laughter)
<br /> TODD: Well, I'm the new guy and I obviously don't have the same level of institutional
<br /> knowledge or even the background in Hilo. I mean, I was born in '88 right, but you know, I've
<br /> listened a lot to my parents talk about what Banyan Drive used to be and it's very far removed
<br /> from my experience. And this is probably one of the few parts of Hilo where I do feel like I have
<br /> a very in-depth knowledge of I managed Suisan Fish Market for couple years, but I also used to
<br /> live at Bay View Banyan. So I don't have a lot of experience with, you know, the Reed's Bay
<br /> property or that, but I could give you a couple, you know, share some stories. I saw a guy get hit
<br /> with a guitar in the parking lot, which is kind of surreal. There was a moped fire on the fourth
<br /> floor of our building, which I don't know how that happens, right? But these things were pretty
<br /> common, actually, these kind of crazy, surreal things that you don't expect in Hilo. So, from, I
<br /> obviously got appointed couple weeks before the start of the session and I defer a lot to my
<br /> colleagues, especially on these areas where there's been a lot of work put into it from the County
<br /> and the State side, but I'm on board with anything we can do, really, to revitalize that area.
<br /> Whether it's through the County or whether it's through the State. I'm just interested in seeing
<br /> some sort of progress. I mean, when I was at the Fish Market, we had a homeless individual who
<br /> would constantly get rearrested for harassing people and probably 30, 40 times in a year. And,
<br /> but that, that's not uncommon in that area, so—and this is where, this is the premier tourism area
<br /> of East Hawaii. So anything we can do on that front is definitely appreciated.
<br /> DELIMA: Everybody's got a mic in front of them so feel free to speak anytime you want.
<br /> GADDIS: Thank you. Yeah, I qualify definitely as a new guy as well, so I'll keep it brief, but I
<br /> think everybody seems to kind of see things heading in the same direction long-term and they
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<br /> Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency
<br /> October 25,2017 Minutes
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