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Harry Kim <br />Alor <br />(g LU'tf fintfl <br />Wil Okabe <br />Managing Director <br />Barbara J. kossow <br />Depuo, Managing Director <br />ffirr of f r nor <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,, Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />April 2, 2018 <br />Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair <br />Committee on Water and Land <br />Hawaii State Capitol, Room 211 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair <br />Committee on Ways and Means <br />Hawaii State Capitol, Room 211 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Dear Chair Rhoads and Dela Cruz, and Committee Members: <br />Re: HB 2073, HD 1, SD 1 Relating to Banyan and Kanoelehua Industrial <br />Area <br />Hearing Date: 04/05/2018 — 10:00 am; Conference Room 211 <br />HB 2073 has followed a circuitous route. The original purpose of H 2073 was <br />to exempt construction of improvements in a redevelopment project from General <br />Excise and Use Taxes. That bill was amended, an. HD 1 proposed a ten-year pilot <br />project to allow a local redevelopment agency to contract with a developer for <br />construction within the Kanoelehua Industrial Area and Banyan Drive region of Hilo. It <br />also amended the general excise fax exemption. Now SD 1 proposes to eliminate the <br />fax provision entirely, expressing the belief that "other financial incentives may be <br />provided to encourage re. evelopment projects." <br />By way of background, anyan Drive is underutilized and in disrepair. It is the <br />center of tourism in East Hawaii, but it is a jewel that is quite tarnished at the present <br />time. The Kanoelehua Industrial Area is well utilized but is suffering the ravages of <br />time, as leases issued to tsunami victims near their termination. <br />Hawaii County has taken the first steps toward revitalizing the Banyan Drive <br />peninsula. The ad inistration, Council, community, and Big Island legislators have <br />found common purpose; the redevelopment area has been defined; an a conceptual <br />master .(an has .een created as a starting point. Now funds are needed to conduct the <br />enviro mental impart statements necessary to complete the redevelopment plan and <br />move forward. <br />County Hawii‘i is al Equal Opportunity Provider and Emit loyeL <br />