THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	49
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF hAWAII TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF REDEVELOPING certain UNIVERSITY LANDS ADJACENT to THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA CAMPUS INTO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism estimates that Hawaii will need approximately twenty-six thousand to forty-seven thousand new housing units before 2030 to address the State's critical housing shortage; and

WHEREAS, because demand for new housing continues to grow more rapidly than the housing supply, the failure to increase the inventory of workforce housing units will result in the housing shortage worsening each passing year; and

WHEREAS, if the State fails to address this housing crisis, more residents will be forced to move away from Hawaii to obtain housing they can afford; and

WHEREAS, state agencies may help to address the housing crisis by developing affordable housing, including workforce housing, on suitable lands that the agencies are planning to redevelop; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii has initiated the early stages of planning to redevelop some of its lands, including Tax Map Key (TMK) (1) 2-8-015:001, which is adjacent to the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus and is where the College of Education is currently located; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii has stated that its plans for TMK (1) 2-8-015:001 include demolishing a building previously used by PBS Hawaii and relocating the College of Education--both for which the Legislature has previously appropriated funds; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii has also announced plans to eventually relocate the University of Hawaii Childcare Center from TMK (1) 2-8-015:001 to a different location; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii's plans to repurpose TMK (1) 2-8-015:001 should include the development of workforce housing, which would help to address the housing needs of the community, increase amenities for the surrounding properties, and enhance the surrounding neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, providing concepts and plans to the public as early as possible would be helpful and useful to University of Hawaii programs and organizations that currently utilize TMK (1) 2‑8‑015:001, as well as surrounding properties; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the University of Hawaii is requested to study the feasibility of redeveloping lands situated at TMK (1) 2‑8‑015:001 into workforce housing and other university-affiliated uses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii is requested to include in the study a conceptual development plan that may include a market study to redevelop the parcel, along with the steps needed for the development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, on the feasibility study to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Hawaii, Provost of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Vice President for Administration of the University of Hawaii System, and Vice President of Budget and Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Hawaii System.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

UH; Workforce Housing; TMK (1) 2‑8‑015:001; Feasibility Study; Report to Legislature