Question: The old Cinerama Theater building on South King Street, now occupied by O’Reilly Auto Parts, has had metal scaffolding 5 to 6 feet high on the public sidewalk for at least a year. This scaffolding has been an obstruction and a danger for pedestrians. The old theater marquee is falling apart and a danger to someone walking under it. Recently a homeless person has been sleeping under the marquee. Now a fence has been put up so the person lies on the sidewalk or under the scaffolding. It appears that no work is being done to repair the building. Is there a city agency that has to issue a permit to set up a structure like this on public sidewalks, and is there is a time limit?
Answer: We got an answer this week. An emergency demolition permit to remove the entire "canopy" that overhangs the sidewalk at 1550 S. King St. was issued April 3 "for safety of the public," the city said.
The property owner plans to begin removal next week, said Art Challacombe, chief of the city Department of Planning and Permitting’s Customer Services Office.
Asked why it’s taken so long for work to be done, he said that part of the process of obtaining a demolition permit involved a building permit review that requires going through the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Division.
"So, by necessity, the time frame for permit approval would take a little longer," Challacombe said. "No penalties were assessed since the property owner complied with all county and state requirements throughout the (building permit) review process."
The old Cinerama building is not on the state’s register of historic places. It was built in 1928 and opened on Jan. 3, 1929 as the New Pawaa Theatre. In 1962, after renovations, it reopened as the Cinerama Theater.
Challacombe said Chapter 6E of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, dealing with historic preservation, requires all building permit applications for buildings 50 years old or older to be reviewed by the preservation division whether they are on the historic register or not.
That chapter defines a "historic property" as "any building, structure, object, district, area, or site, including heiau and underwater site, which is over 50 years old."
It also says that before any project that might affect a historic property, aviation artifact or burial site can proceed, the state has to give its "written concurrence."
Question: With a handicap parking placard, can we park for free in metered stalls?
Answer: Yes. With a valid permit or special license plate, you can park for free in a metered stall for 2 1/2 hours or for the maximum time allowed by the meter, whichever is longer.
However, in an unmetered parking facility where there is an attendant on duty, parking for the disabled does not have to be free. See is.gd/7ajGN6 for more information.
Mahalo
To the ER team on duty Sunday, April 1, at Tripler Army Medical Center. I was waiting for my friend at church when he arrived by bus, saying he was dizzy and not feeling well. I took him to Tripler. They immediately tended to him and ran every test you can imagine. All of his "vitals" were fine. I just want to compliment the doctor and his staff (I didn’t get their names) for doing such a "bang-up" job in making sure my friend was OK. — A Veteran/5th RCT
Auwe
To the driver who beeped and raised his hands as I slowed, then stopped at a yellow light to turn on Metcalf Street from Wilder Avenue. If I went through the yellow light, I would have cut off (or nearly hit) the person waiting to cross the street. The driver was tailing me for the longest time and nearly hit me when I slowed. Since when does a yellow light mean speed up? That man may not care about his life and anyone else’s, but others out there do. — Anonymous
Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
