Kamakana Villages to provide 170 units for low-income families, seniors

KAILUA-KONA — Two developments intended to provide 170 affordable housing rental units for Kona families and seniors are expected to finish construction and start moving in new residents by the end of next year.

The land for the developments, part of the Kamakana Villages at Keahuolu off Ane Keohokalole Highway, were blessed during a ceremony Wednesday.

“Today, we celebrate the hard work, dedication and teamwork of so many and our deep commitment in being partners for positive change,” said Monika Mordasini Rossen, vice president of development for The Michaels Development Company.

The $52 million developments are divided into two separate projects, which together make up the first phase of the planned community.

The first of the two projects will be the Hale Makana Ohana, a five-building, 85-unit development geared toward families.

Of the 85 units, 50 will be one-bedroom units and 35 will be two-bedroom units.

The second development, Hale Makana O Kupuna, will provide an additional 85 units for seniors — 80 single-bedroom and five two-bedroom — and also will be spread across five residential buildings.

Each development also will include laundry facilities and a single-story community center building.

Future residents must meet certain income requirements to be eligible for any of the rental units.

The developments have maximum household income limits based on the area’s median income as determined each year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In 2015, the median income in Hawaii County was $62,200, according to the income schedule released by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp.

Units in the developments are allocated into three income groups: those with incomes below 30 percent, those with incomes between 30 and 50 percent and those with incomes between 50 and 60 percent.

The developers allocated a certain number of units in each development to each income bracket.

The income limits for residents also are based on household size, with larger households allotted a higher income limit.

The 60 percent threshold for a one-person household is set at $28,680 for a single-bedroom unit, according to the guidelines, while the threshold for a three-person household in that same unit would be $36,840.

Monthly rent for the units also will be guided by family income and range from $384 per month to $768 for single-bedroom units and $460 to $921 for two-bedroom units, according to the developer.

Among those at Wednesday’s blessing was Ken Van Bergen. Today, he’s the assistant housing administrator for the County of Hawaii, but his connection to affordable housing runs much deeper.

“I was raised by a single mother and in my early years, we lived in government housing,” he said.

Being able to grow up in a clean and safe environment, he said, was huge for his family and he’s excited to be a part of today’s affordable housing projects.

“It’s huge and it’s powerful, and it’s very, very important,” he said.

Given the cost of housing in the Kona area even relative to other areas of the Big Island, Van Bergen touted the importance of developments geared toward affordable housing for residents.

Funding for the projects is being provided by various sources including a HUD community development block grant as well as loans obtained through the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund and the Rental Housing Revolving Fund from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp.

The biggest piece of funding, Rossen said, is the low-income housing tax credit program, which translated to about $17 million for the projects.

Stacie Brach, regional vice president of Interstate Realty Management, said her company anticipates opening a waiting list in late spring 2017. Interstate Realty Management is the development’s property manager.

Email Cameron Miculka at cmiculka@westhawaiitoday.com.