HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDAT PR_4_17_09William P. Kenoi
Ilq vor
William T. Takaba
Ilonogo� Director
Walter K.M. Lau
Depirtv_llan, Bing Director
County of Hawaii
891 U nlain Sheet • Hilo, Haivai'i 96720 -3982 • (808) 961 -8211 • Fax (808) 961 -6553
hONA: 75-5722 Hanama Place, Snite 102 • hailtia -hona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 327 -3602 • Fax (808) 326-5663
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2009
CONTACT: Hunter Bishop, 961 -8565
Team eyes sustainability in downtown Hilo plan
The Envision Downtown Hilo 2025 VisionKeepers and the County of Hawaii Planning
Department have begun preparations for Downtown Hilo's participation in the 2009
Sustainable Design Assessment Team Program. The SDAT Program is a community
assistance program that focuses on principles of sustainability — defined by our
community's ability to meet the needs of today without reducing the ability of future
generations to meet their needs. Downtown Hilo was selected as a host community by
the American Institute of Architects in December 2008. In May, the AIA will send a multi-
disciplinary team of professionals to Hilo to work with local implementation partners and
stakeholders in a 3 -day charrette (collaborative planning workshop).
Team Leader Erica Rioux Gees, an architect from Amherst, Massachusetts, and
Cooper Martin, Project Manager at the AIA's Center for Communities by Design in
Washington D.C., conducted a site visit in March. They spent three days meeting with
key stakeholders, community organizations, and government officials, including
Downtown Hilo council members Dennis Onishi and Donald Ikeda, and County
Managing Director William Takaba, to collect information on critical issues facing
Downtown Hilo. The information gathered will be used to assemble the team of
multidisciplinary experts who will return to Hilo from May 5 — 7, 2009 to participate in the
charrette.
"The goal of this process is not to change Downtown Hilo, but to show residents the
tools to implement the Envision Downtown Hilo 2025 Plan that they already created and
that they will continue to improve upon," states Cooper Martin. "Success can only come
from inspiring the citizens of Hilo. They are the people with roots in its past and a stake
in its future."
(more)
Connty of Haivai'i is an Eqnal Opportnnit\ Provider and Emplo\ er.
Public participation is a key component of the SDAT Program.
There will be two open house community meetings during the SDAT
Tuesday May 5, from 5 p.m. — 7:30pm
Thursday May 7, from 5 p.m. — 7:30pm
(Locations to be announced in an upcoming flyer)
The first community meeting is designed to introduce the public to the SDAT Program
and invite feedback on the range of issues to be considered. The second community
meeting will feature a joint presentation by the SDAT Team with local implementation
partners on the results of the SDAT Program.
EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 is a grassroots community planning and implementation
process in collaboration with the County of Hawaii Planning Department. The
VisionKeepers are a community group of volunteers who shepherd and promote
implementation of the Plan.
Additional support for the SDAT Program comes from the State of Hawai'i Department
of Health, Healthy Hawai'i Initiative, which contributed $5,000 toward the required local
funding match. The VisionKeepers also received $2,000 from the Healing Our Island
Grant Fund, a State Grant in Aid project administered by the Hawai'i County Resource
Center, a program of the County Department of Research and Development.
Additionally, the AIA Hawaii Island and Honolulu Chapter of the AIA are committed
partners and will be assisting with fundraising efforts for the events.
For more information, visit the EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 Website at,
www.co.hawaii.hi.us /edh2025 or the AIA SDAT Website,
www.aia.org /about /initiatives /AIAS075425.
County of Haivai'i is an Equal Opportunit\ Provider and Emplo\ er.