December 27, 2006
Sugar Mill Center Is In
The Works
A
groundbreaking ceremony was held last month for the
roadway leading to the last phase of the Mill Town
Industrial Park in Waipahu, which was hailed by
community leaders as a sign of re-energizing the former
plantation community with jobs and commerce.
“This is a proud and historic day for Waipahu,” said
Mayor Mufi Hannemann, a former area councilman. “This
plantation community is going to keep the best of the
past and open the door for the future.”
The
Sugar Mill Center at Mill Town, next to the landmark
smokestack, will comprise 13 fee-simple industrial lots
on 11 acres and a retail center on two acres. The
ground-breaking for the center is expected to take place
in early 2007.
At the Nov. 17 ceremony Collin Miyamoto, vice president
of Avalon Development and project manager for the Sugar
Mill Center, said roadway improvements on Mokuola Street
and construction of a new road into the industrial park
would begin shortly.
He said the industrial lots would ideally be sold by
early 2007, and owners “could start building by the
middle to end of 2007.”
Miyamoto explained that there are few opportunities to
buy in an industrial market with vacancies at less than
3 percent, with neighboring Mill Town Center sold out
and areas toward Kapolei nearly sold out. He also said
its central location between the West side, Honolulu and
military bases was a plus.
“We do have reservations for all of the saleable (lots)
on the commercial side. It’s a matter of signing
contracts,"He said, adding that Avalon is still open to
hearing from interested buyers.
On the retail side, Avalon is “in discussion with
(interested tenants for) approximately 45 percent of the
total area,” he said. The retail center has 14 spaces on
the ground floor and eight on the second. Miyamoto said
the center may offer facilities like doctors offices and
services such as dry cleaning,as well as salons and
national retail stores.
Sen. Clarence Nishihara, who represents the Waipahu
neighborhood, said the planned project would provide
jobs and a synergy with nearby neighbors, including the
Filipino Community Center and YMCA, and be “a catalyst
for civic pride.”
-By Lisa Asato
MidWeek Islander / Midweek -
December 27, 2006
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/Print_Story/sugar_mill_center_is_in_the_works/
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