Committee questions Hawaii Build pilot and mixed-income subaccount as HHFDC clarifies uses

At the March 20 hearing, HHFDC described a mixed-income subaccount created last session and outlined a five-year Hawaii Build pilot that would pick one project per county and coordinate agency approvals to speed select developments.

HHFDC said the mixed-income subaccount was created last session and that the legislature appropriated roughly $50 million last year and another $50 million this year to tiered accounts; the subaccount would support mixed-income rental projects that serve households above 60 percent of area median income (AMI). HHFDC identified Front Street Apartments as a likely pilot candidate and said about $1,000,000 would be needed for personnel to run the pilot.

Committee members sought details on which projects fit the categories, whether funds had already been used, and how the pilot would coordinate county and state approvals. HHFDC said the pilot would convene stakeholders, set milestones and approvals, and obtain commitments from relevant agencies to meet schedules. Members also probed interaction with mandatory review timelines in Chapter 60 and whether a 60-day mandated review provision in several bills could create confusion with existing statutory deadlines.

Next steps: Committee recommended moving related bills forward with amendments and technical fixes; some items were deferred for further drafting and rule clarifications.