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BUSINESS NEWS KŌʻULA GROUNDBREAKING AND CONSTRUCTION FINANCING FOR ‘A’ALI’I MARK NEW MILESTONES AT WARD VILLAGE The Howard Hughes Corporation continues to make strong progress at its Ward Village master planned community, securing a $293.7 million loan for its fifth residential tower, ‘A’ali’i, and breaking ground on its newest residential building, Kōʻula. “With each passing milestone, Ward Village continues its transformation into one of the country’s most sought-after urban communities,” said David Weinreb, CEO, The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Breaking ground on Kō’ula, obtaining financing for ‘A’ali’i, and generating robust year-to-date sales demonstrate Ward Village’s ongoing momentum and unique position in the market.” Kō’ula is the first tower to be designed in Hawai’i by Studio Gang , an architecture and urban design practice led by acclaimed American architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang. Gang was recently included on Time Magazine ’s TIME 100, its list of the most influential people in the world. The building’s interiors are designed by the internationally recognized Yabu Pushelberg. Kō’ula’s fluid façade exterior bends with the coastline and gives way to interiors with stunning ocean views, natural light, and private lanais in every home. Targeting LEED certification, the bold structure improves energy efficiency by reducing solar heat gain. Located adjacent to Victoria Ward Park, Kō’ula will feature 565 residences. Ward Village currently includes the completed towers of Waiea, Anaha, Aeʻo, and Ke Kilohana, with ‘A’ali’i and Kō’ula under
construction. ‘A’ali’i offers a sophisticated, space-conscious design that embodies smarter living. The 41-story tower is slated for completion in 2021 and will be comprised of 750 homes and 11,230 square feet of ground floor retail space. “Ward Village is creating a new urban island lifestyle for Honolulu, rejuvenating the community as a true gathering place that integrates Hawai`i’s natural beauty with a thoughtfully planned and diverse spectrum of homes,” said Simon Treacy, president, Hawai`i of The Howard Hughes Corporation. “With this latest accomplishment, we are pleased to continue to nurture the evolution of this forward-looking community while paying homage to the island’s rich legacy.” Ward Village is a 60-acre coastal master planned community in the heart of Honolulu, located between downtown and Waikīkī in the Kaka’ako district. Honoring the distinct history of its land, Ward Village is at the forefront of sustainable community development, integrating significant architecture, local culture, and public space to create a destination that focuses on wellness, connectivity, and vibrant placemaking set along O’ahu’s south shore. New tree-lined sidewalks and bike lanes provide access to an over 100-acre public beach park, as well as the recently revitalized Kewalo Harbor. At full build-out, the development will include approximately 1 million square feet of unique retail experiences and thousands of homes in the community that was named “Master Planned Community of the Year” by the National Association of Home Builders and “Best Planned Community in the United States” by Architectural Digest .
Resulting from strong demand for new housing in Honolulu and the desire for an urban walkable lifestyle, Ward Village is quickly approaching the sellout of its first four delivered residential towers– Waiea, Anaha, Ae’o, and Ke Kilohana – which are transforming the popular shopping and dining district into a vibrant neighborhood that offers ocean views and a thoughtfully curated mix of retail and lifestyle experiences set among walkable, open spaces. ‘A’ali’i and Kō’ula will continue to expand the selection of new homes as well as activate the community’s newly opened outdoor gathering place, Victoria Ward Park. Named after the land’s most famous steward, Victoria Ward, the park serves as the community hub for outdoor recreation and ongoing events. In May 2019, Ward Village welcomed its latest residents to Ke Kilohana, the neighborhood’s first affordable housing tower. Art and culture play an integral role at Ward Village, with public art highlighted throughout the neighborhood, including large-scale wall murals, sculptures and locally inspired exhibits. As a destination for art and culture, Ward Village continues to serve as the founding and co-title sponsor of the Honolulu Biennial. As the first approved LEED‐ND Platinum certified master planned development in the country and the only one in Hawai’i, Ward Village is at the forefront of sustainable community development and will feature public amenities at a scale not offered by any other urban development in the state. will include over 4,500 homes and approximately one million square feet of retail.
MARK ZWEIG, from page 3
witnesses the excesses. They feel like saving money or being efficient isn’t important. Or, they become demotivated be- cause they feel they don’t get the rewards they are entitled to because of this waste. 6)Deadweight principals. People who are owners and who don’t carry their weight are a huge problem for AEC firms of all types. And when you combine this with a lack of respect for the firm’s culture you have a double whammy that is a cancer that has to be eradicated. Again, the problem goes far beyond the considerable financial burden these people repre- sent. 7)Outside consultants/professional services. A lot of money is wasted here. Sometimes these people have been around so long they are unable to provide honest advice to the firm principals and therefore become part of the problem. When cutting costs, I always take a hard look at outside legal, ac- counting, management, marketing, and PR services to make sure they are actually earning their fees. How do you stack up in these seven areas? Is money being wasted? If so, take action now! MARK ZWEIG is Zweig Group’s chairman and founder. Contact him at mzweig@zweiggroup.com.
4)Admin support staff. I’m sorry to say it, but too many of these people end up as personal assistants doing stuff they really shouldn’t be doing because it doesn’t benefit the busi- ness. Picking up cleaning and making dinner reservations for the boss’s wedding anniversary, or making travel arrange- ments for the boss and his kid who are doing college tours, are really matters that the boss should find another way to get done. The older the company, and the older the principals, the more likely this situation will exist. “Business is good but you’re not hitting your profit goals? Look to the expense portion of your income statement. I have always said I can’t find a $10 million AEC firm that I couldn’t cut between $500K and $1 million worth of expenses out of.” 5)Meals and entertainment. So much is wasted here by firm principals, and the problem goes far beyond the money spent. It’s really about the example that’s set for everyone else who
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THE ZWEIG LETTER October 7, 2019, ISSUE 1315
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