The city has a green light to proceed with condemning eight streets in Kakaako that are a tangled mess of competing ownership claims and parking rights.
Honolulu City Council members voted 8-1 Thursday approving a resolution to start the condemnation process.
The decision will allow the Department of Design and Construction to begin work to purchase the roads from two brothers who do business as Kakaako Land Co. even if they oppose a sale.
Bob Emami, owner of The Car Store at 836 Kawaiahao St., was elated by the Council’s move.
“I consider this as a Christmas gift from the Council members to the community,” he said after the vote.
Emami is one of many area business owners and residents who have complained that Kakaako Land, led by Calvert and Cedric Chun, has created dangerous street conditions by keeping the roads in poor shape and controlling parking on the road shoulders.
Some business owners also complain that Kakaako Land charges tenants for parking that used to be either free for public use or reserved by the businesses fronting the parking spaces.
The property to be condemned will be portions of Queen, Kawaiahao, Ilaniwai, Waimanu, Curtis, Dreier, Cummins and Kamakee streets.
Robert Kroning, design and construction director, previously estimated that it would take a little more than 2-1/2 years to acquire the streets using the city’s power of eminent domain because of the need for land surveys, appraisals, compensation offers and other work.
Sometimes condemnation involves contentious litigation. However, an attorney for Kakaako Land previously told the Council that the company would consider a voluntary sale.
The no vote for condemnation was Councilman Brandon Elefante, who cited unspecified legal concerns.
Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga, who represents the Kakaako area and introduced the resolution to condemn the streets, said there was an urgent need for a solution.
