RETROFITTING PARKING STRUCTURES INTO RESIDENTIAL USING MODULAR UNITS

Abstract

To fulfill Hawaii's housing needs, developers and owners require incentives to be motivated to construct housing. The State subsidized affordable housing, meaning that a portion of the market is unsustainable. Can the State continue to subsidize affordable housing as the cost of production and land increase year over year? Luxury condominiums are one of the few profitable developments in Hawaii, but aside from the subsidized affordable housing, where do other types of housing in between fit into the State's plan? Alternative forms of housing need to be considered as a supplement to affordable housing. A greater diversity of homes at different price points allows all parts of the housing market to grow, creating a more extensive stock of accommodation for the diverse population of the islands. The median nonfamily salary in Hawaii is $51,343. Those at and below the median salary qualify for affordable housing. Those living above a certain threshold no longer qualify for affordable housing. These people range from single to multi-family households. Greater diversity in higher-priced housing for diverse types of people will allow families and households to find the right fit, freeing up housing that might be suited for another family at a lower or higher income. Hawaii faces a dwindling stock of developable land. However, not all the land is used to its fullest potential. In dense urban areas of Honolulu, where work opportunities are abundant, a few building typologies underutilize valuable urban space. Parking structures are the main culprit, with peak traffic during work hours and little to no traffic at night. While they currently provide an essential service to the dense urban core, their importance could change with future transportation trends. As electric cars with autonomous features gain popularity and accessibility, parking structures may be phased out. Innovations in alternative forms of transportation have also caused fundamental changes in the landscapes of urban cities. Oahu roads have seen the addition of bike lanes. Biki bike rental stations have appeared along these routes in downtown Honolulu. Suppose these trends eventually become a direct competitor to cars. In that case, parking structures will slowly lose their function, creating an opportunity for new developments in the city's most sought-after locations.