The Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation recently submitted permit applications for a 30-unit expansion to the Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood, according to its executive director.
The new senior housing units would be located next to the 60-unit neighborhood that opened in April 2014.
Keith Kato, head of the nonprofit organization, said the documents were submitted with Hawaii County a couple of weeks ago.
The site has already been cleared.
“We are out to bid trying to get the numbers to work,” he said.
The second phase was initially estimated to cost $8.5 million. Kato said that cost has increased to the “$11 million range,” and the organization is negotiating with contractors about how to limit the cost increase.
Funding sources include state and federal low-income tax credits, small loans from the state, and funds from the county, Kato said. He said he didn’t want to disclose the total funding amount since negotiations with builders are ongoing.
But Kato said the county’s contribution is about $2 million.
“It’s a significant contribution,” he said.
Kato said he hopes to have construction, which would take 10-11 months, starting this summer.
The waiting list for the senior housing facility is about 360 people, he said.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 62 years old with an income no more than 50 percent of the area’s median income.
Section 8 housing vouchers are accepted.
Additionally, the organization intends to build an adult day center and additional phases of 60 and 30 units at the Mohouli Street location.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
