Kauai New Real Estate Development

I was going to the north shore today to get an update on development out there but it seems the Hawaiian media eyes are on Poipu. After a meeting of the Koloa Community Association we have been reminded that with new development also comes great disruption of life to everyone in the area. Waikomo Stream Villas is all but surrounded right now with blasting and the messiest part of any construction project…the site work and new roads. Let us hope that all those involved will be as responsive as Dick Holtzman of Kukui’ula Development and Jim Peterson of Wainani at Kiahuna. They both must be commended for setting up a repsonse process well before they even started the work. Their hotlines have been ready to field everything from concern to absolute rage from callers wanting to let someone know just how miserable life has been living close to their project sites. There’s no stopping the work in process but life will be much better for everyone in the meantime if we can just feel like those responsible want to make ammends and address the problems they are creating. Dick, Jim thanks for not hiding from the heat!

Out of the dust rises the Pheonix…..earthquake? What!!? As I sat enjoying a wonderful lunch with several of my collegues at Joe’s on the Greeen, out of nowhere came a soul shaking boom and the iced tea glasses quivered in unison like a line of Las Vegas showgirls all down the table. Luckily for us, no earthquake but just a scheduled blasting as Goodfellow, site work contractor for Brookfield Homes forges ahead carving up the bedrock on site of the new Pili Mai project at the edge of the fairways on the Kiahuna Golf Course. Grading permits at long last issued, the fist stages of site prep are finally under way. What a spectacle as the sky subtly dims the sparkling afternoon sun across the course as the cloud of dust and silt floats on the tradewinds that followed the blast. Interestng challenge for the afternoon duffers. looking for a bunker to dive into raher than out of!

Brookfield Homes out of California has been doing business in the state recently. They have successfully completed projects on Oahu and the Big Island. There first Kauai venture was NihiLani in Princeville completed last year and are now winding down the sales operations with only a small percentage left unsold. Pili Mai is their project in the Poipu area located along the 9th fairway at Kiahuna Golf Course. This project includes 15 buildings with 190 condiminum units in total to be built on 19 acres of zoned land, one of the five new developments contiguous to the golf course. They have been accepting reservation contracts for several months now and are finally showing signs that construction might start soon. Some tell tale posts and dust screening are currently being installed at the perimieter of the site with large stockpiles of gravel awaiting the elusive building permits. All of the Kiahuna Mauka developments have had to join collectively to fullfill many of the county infrastructure requirements which they have been working on over the past two years. Pili Mai offers buyers units from two to four bedrooms, approximately 1700 to 2500square feetinclusive of lanai and many of them have a garage feature as well. Prices start in the mid $700k range and go up from there. Talk to your Realtor about this project if you have any interest or register through any of the agents at Makai Properties, as all of our agents are familiar with the registration process and we receive regular updates directly from the development office in Honolulu.

S and P Marketing out of Canada, hot off their successful sell out at the Trump Tower Waikiki project, are here on Kauai ramping up their sales center for the developer of a condominium called The Koloa Landing at Poipu. Over the next six months, they will be taking reservations for this 300 unit condominium project from the sales center currently being completed on site. Dust screens are now being erected and the site prep is well in way. Meanwhile the developer continues pushing forward to secure all necessary County pemits and the required State registration necessary to begin their sales efforts. Their plans are to sell 300 units in ten seperate buildings with floor plans up to 4000 square feet of living spaces including spacious ocean view lanai. According to preliminary plans I have seen, the project will boast a lavish bundle of on site ammenities such as a pool complex, fitness facilities, covered parking garages and more. Over the past few years they have hired a local research firm to determine exactly what they need to provide and are currently surveying to determine their market demand, demographics and gather contact information for interested consumers. While no specific prices can be quoted prior to the isssuance of the Public Report, they appear to be targeting a range just under $1million to over $3million. I have had discussions with members of their sales team and they will be providing our office with sales information and basic instructions on the registration process that we may provide accurate and timely information on the opportunity as it becomes available to our clients and customers.

Finding a balance between cookie cutter neighborhoods and a far too divergent collection of mismatched homes is a real challenge for most residential developers. Its a difficult thing to balance. In an ideal neighborhood all homes are of a consistent quality and general style without seeming too much like they were all cut from the same mold. The Maryl Group has found the perfect balance in skilfully designing Wainani at Kiahuna. They started with a neighborhood site plan that best captures the most redeeming qualities of each site. Step two: the design team created three highly liveable floorplans and gave each one a set of exterior design variations that provide a sense of differentiation from one neighbor to the next. Place them uniquely on each site, add pools, outdoor kitchens or many other owner chosen options and strategically place landscape elements and the end result will be one of the most beautiful, elegantly liveable comminities in the heart of Poipu!

Recently the sales team at the Royal Palms at Poipu held their selection event. For those of you who do not know, this is a 164 unit resort development in Poipu waiting for permits to break ground by US Pacific Builders out of Honolulu, They have been accepting reservations for several months now since they opened their discovery center last year. According to thier broker in charge, they had secured 166 reservations and at the event they converted 76 of those reservation holders to contracts. Building peermits from the county have yet to be issued. Stay tuned for more details…

Wainani is one of five new developments contiguous to the Kiahuna Golf Course on the mauka side of Poipu Road. It is actually (in my opinion) the most attractive and exclusive location of all five. Tucked away completely surrounded by the greens and fairways this promises to be among the finest residential neighborhoods on Kauai. The seventy turn key homes will commence construction within the month and prices for the 70 homes being offered range between $1.54 and $2.45 million. The ammenity package is in progress and will be announced shortly. Check out all the details at www.makaiproperties.com and to learn more about the developer, The Maryl Group and their vision check www.wainanihawaii.com. When you are in the area, be sure to stop at Joe’s on the Green for a refreshing “Waitini” the signature cocktail celebrating the groundbreaking of Wainani several months ago stop by the sales center at the Poipu Shopping Village and get an orientation and arrange a tour of the projet site and pick out your new home! .It is really the best way to understand and compare all the opportunities in Poipu.

Aloha and welcome! I am pleased to participate in this real estate blog covering all the news and latest information regarding new projects proposed planned or underway on the island. There is literally something new on every side of the island over the past few years. As our real estate market heated up demand grew by leaps and bounds. As a result many of the parcels that have been zoned for development have passed into the hands of developers. The process whereby all these projects come to the marketplace is long and complex and each area of the island has their own unique set of challenges. At Makai Properties, we work to keep up to date on all new development islandwide. My intention with this blog is to offer a quick snapshot as these things unfold over time. I also write a “makai blog” on my company site, www.makaiproperties.com which also goes into detail about the market, county issues and a peak at the real estate hotsheet on a regular basis. Stay tuned and come back often!

Aloha and welcome to my new blog, part of the Aloha Living Blog Network. I look forward to sharing with you both a professional and personal perspective on new real estate development on Kauai. Stay tuned!