City of Honolulu wants to privatize
12 city-owned apartment buildings

The City and County of Honolulu plans to transfer the ownership and management of 12 city-owned apartment buildings to the private sector. It has hired the commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis to solicit and review proposals from private entities interested in acquiring the leasehold buildings, officials said in a news release.

The city will retain ownership of the land. Buyers must have a track record of operating and maintaining affordable housing projects, city officials said.

“Our No. 1 goal is to preserve affordability,” said Mayor Peter Carlisle, in a statement. “The rent restrictions currently in place will remain. We plan to harness the skills and resources of the private sector to create a better living environment for our residents.”

The 12 buildings are the Chinatown Gateway Plaza, Marin Tower, Chinatown Manor, Harbor Village, Pauahi Hale, Winston Hale, West Loch Village Elderly, Manoa Gardens, Westlake Apartments in Salt Lake, Kulana Nani in Kaneohe, Kanoa Apartments and Bachelor’s Quarters in Ewa Villages. Combined, the properties have 1,250 units.