Land acquisition often makes up a large percentage of the total project cost for developers. Giving the private sector access to public lands can help make more projects feasible–in exchange for end uses that benefit the community, such as providing affordable housing. Development on public land near the future rail stations presents additional opportunities to create mixed-use and mixed-income communities that maximize the supply of affordable housing.

Potential benefits of utilizing public land for private development:

• • Reducing the upfront costs of acquiring land to make the development of affordable housing and other TOD uses more financially feasible.
  • Putting land to higher and better use.
  • Decreasing the amount of taxpayer subsidies being spent on affordable housing.
  • Directing affordable housing near jobs and transit where available land is often scarce or expensive.
  • Locating affordable housing near community facilities to make more efficient use of potentially underutilized sites.

Maps of all City- and State-owned land in TOD areas: http://planning.hawaii.gov/lud/state-tod/station-area-and-corridor-maps/.

Opportunities for TOD on City-owned land:

The City has been acquiring property within TOD areas to enable large-scale development through consolidation of parcels that can take advantage of the economies of scale and ability for iconic TOD projects. The Department of Housing and Land Management partners with developers, and structures financing solutions, to accelerate development on City property.

Certain excess HART land that may also have development potential was shown in a HART TOD Committee presentation in October 2018.

Opportunities for TOD on State-owned land:

The State is the largest landowner along the rail corridor with about 2,000 acres within ½ mile of the stations, including the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. The Hawaii Interagency Council for TOD, or TOD Council, coordinates and facilitates State agency planning and implementation of TOD projects.