Economic Development, Housing Analyses, Market Feasibility

Most of our socio-economic impact experience has involved us with economic development, the feasibility of proposed projects, and also quite often housing market implications. But we have also conducted studies and projects outside the permit entitlement process that address such questions even more directly.

Selected Major Examples

2006 Affordable Housing Issue Paper, Maui County General Plan Update. With subcontractor Tom Dinell, we analyzed data on Hawai`i housing conditions extending back as far as 50 years, and prepared a "toolkit" of options by which county governments can address housing concerns.

2002-2004 Economic Development Component, Waialua Community Master Plan . Working with physical planners Group 70 and a citizen core group, our task was to assess the feasibility of various general economic directions for this former plantation community. This involved both detailed technical analyses and also substantial community interaction.

1995 Market Update for Villages of La`i`opua . The Hawai`i State Housing and Finance Development Corporation retained us to prepare a Market Assessment Update in conjunction with its 4,300-unit planned North Kona community. Our task was to assess the demand for affordable and market for-sale housing in the next several years, to assure likely absorption of the next increment of development.

1991 Kuilima Resort Socio-Economic Needs Assessment Study . Extensive analysis of employment, child care, and affordable housing needs of O`ahu North Shore residents and Kuilima Resort employers. Part of 5-year project with community advisory committee to assure rural area resort would meet both economic and social needs of community partners.

Overview of Experience and History

Economic Development

•  Economic development component (sector feasibility analyses), Waialua Town Master Plan (2002-04).

•  Analyses of changing patterns of tourism and emergence of recreational real estate, as part of “Sustainable Tourism Study” for DBEDT (2002-04).

•  Community input to International Business Center of Hawai`i on use of State funds to aid export management industry (1994).

•  Coordination of community-based committees planning transfer of resort-related economic opportunities to wider North Shore community, for Kuilima Resort (1988-93).

•  Preliminary strategic planning for Hawai`i State Film Industry Branch (1991).

Housing and Other Market Feasibility Studies

• Ecotourism market research (with The Kauaian Institute, 2006)

• Housing analysis, Maui General Plan (with Tom Dinell, 2006)

•  Vacation rental magnitude and impacts (with The Kauaian Institute, 2005).

•  Lifestyle shopping center market research (2004).

•  State of Hawai`i affordable housing proposed for La`i`opua, Kona, Hawai`i (1995).

•  U.S. Navy West Loch housing affordable rental research (1991).

•  Research consultant for Hawai`i State Early Childhood Financing/Implementation Initiative, Governor's Office of Children and Youth (in association with Hawai`i Community Foundation and Hawai`i Business Roundtable) (1992-93).

•  Maui Lani affordable rental housing project (1990).

•  Market feasibility indicators, proposed "Pacific Nations" complex, downtown Honolulu (1988). •  Supermarket feasibility survey research (1988).

•  Socio-demographic data for retirement community feasibility study (1988).

Employment Planning

•  Construction labor/demand analysis for military housing privatization contractor (2003).

•  Labor supply/demand analysis for North Hawai`i (1993).

•  Job training program conceptual design for Punalu`u (1990), Hawaiian Riviera Resort (1988), and Kuilima Resort (1985-88).

•  Inventory of existing and potential programs for maximizing local resident employment, for Kohala Coast Resort Association (1988).

•  Study of "Barriers to Employment" of West O`ahu and West Hawai`i residents for Hawai`i State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (1987-88).

Employee Housing Needs Assessments

•  Kuilima/Turtle Bay Workers (1990)

•  Punalu`u Resort (1990)

•  Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani, and Sheraton Waikoloa Resort employees (1987)

•  Waikoloa Hyatt/Transcontinental (1987)

•  Kona Village (1987)