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DELIMA: Gordon, was the request for interest only for the demolition of the
<br /> HEIT: Um, actually no, the request for interest was, I believe, for demolition and redevelopment
<br /> of the Hilo Bay Hotel property. So yeah, and going back to what Senator Kahele mentioned
<br /> before, we did look into potential of doing multiple property requests, but again, given the
<br /> limitation that we have and what this agency has, we have very few options. You know, we
<br /> essentially put a property up for lease. You know, do a long-term lease through public auction
<br /> and we have structures on those sites that need to be addressed, you know, what do we do with
<br /> them. We've done the studies, several studies, and the consensus is that they need to be
<br /> demolished.
<br /> KAHELE: You know, in the request for information for the demolition of Banyan—Uncle
<br /> Billy's and construction of a hotel, one of the proposals from Tower Development was also to
<br /> allocate, I believe, at least two acres right across Reeds Bay for parking, because there is no
<br /> parking at Reeds Bay, and maybe even parking on the other side where Lili`uokalani Park is
<br /> where the tea house is. So, you know, the current lessee was, was willing to look at the golf
<br /> course property as partnering with the County, which I'm not sure how Mayor Kim's thoughts
<br /> on that is, but I thought that was pretty innovative, you know, as we look at, you know,
<br /> enhancing more public use on Banyan Drive in places that people really gather at on the
<br /> weekends, right? Reeds Bay is definitely one of`um, Lili`uokalani Park is another one.
<br /> DELIMA: What's the status of that Tower proposal?
<br /> HEIT: Well, it's still being reviewed. Unfortunately that's done at our central office on Oahu,
<br /> so to the best of my knowledge it's under review and supposed to be getting back to the folks at
<br /> Tower Development on a response. But again, one of the limitations on that property, the Uncle
<br /> Billy's property, is like you said, the parking. You know, you tear down the building and you
<br /> put something up, where are people gonna park their vehicles? You know, it's—this is a mobile
<br /> island. People come here, they rent a car, they need—if they stay at a hotel they want someplace
<br /> to park. And given the current limitations, I think it's one parking stall per unit, basic unit, if
<br /> there's a modified unit it's one and a half or something. So, you know, you're very limited on
<br /> that property as where you're gonna put the vehicles. So it makes it a unique challenge for the
<br /> Department to come up with a
<br /> DELIMA: Unique challenge for the Department, but a unique opportunity for Tower.
<br /> HEIT: Unique would be the key word, yes.
<br /> KAHELE: And you know, I'd have to commend Tower Development
<br /> DELIMA: Absolutely.
<br /> KAHELE: —for what they've done at the Naniloa. You know, it's, it's fantastic. You know, if
<br /> you, I was there on the Fourth of July weekend and there was about 500 people in the pool. I
<br /> didn't think you could put 500 people in the pool. And about 2,000 people on the lawn, you
<br /> know, and that was just something that they had done for our community and it's fantastic.
<br /> When the Hokule`a was there for Merrie Monarch, I mean, it was the place to be. And, you
<br /> know, KITV and the news stations was doing their morning shows out on the lawn of Banyan
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<br /> Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency
<br /> July 25,2018 Minutes
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