Ask Honolulu City Council to Save Chinatown’s Street Character

WHAT ?

Honolulu City Council is considering a bill, Council Bill 82 (2017), CD1,  to prohibit installation of curb extension ‘bulb-outs’ in the core historic precinct of the Chinatown special district.  Click here to read the original bill. 

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation SUPPORTS this bill and encourages other supporters to submit testimony to the Committee on Planning for the May 1, 2018 public hearing.  See sample testimony below.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

In the Summer of 2017, the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) installed curb extensions, also known as “bulb-outs,” on several intersections within the Chinatown District.

The design of the bulb-outs is incompatible with the historic character of the district and do not comply with either the intent of the City’s Special District to enhance historic character, nor the standards and guidelines for treatment of historic properties.

The “bulb-outs” have also been determined to be detrimental to area businesses.

More than 40 new locations for “bulb-outs” have been identified within the Chinatown historic district with installation work to be conducted between 2018-2020.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

ACT TODAY!  Register to testify in person at tomorrow’s City Council Planning Committee meeting, May 1st at 10:30 a.m., or submit written testimony on-line today.  

SHARE THE MESSAGE

Encourage other individuals, groups and businesses who care about protecting the character of Chinatown Historic District to also speak up ASAP. Forward this POST TO:

  • Community members
  • Property owners
  • Business owners
  • Architects
  • Planners
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Commercial Realtors

SAMPLE TESTIMONY

(Please personalize for greater impact inserting why it matters to you and/or how you’ll be impacted.)

SAMPLE TESTIMONY
To:                                  Honolulu City Council, Committee on Planning, The Honorable Ikaika Anderson, Chair

Committee Date:         Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 10:30 a.m.

RE:                                  Support for Council Bill 82 (2017), Relating to Chinatown, Honolulu

I am writing in support of Council Bill 82 (2017), CD1, which would prohibit installation of curb extension bulb-outs in the core historic precinct of the Chinatown special district.

In Summer 2017, the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) installed curb extensions, also known as “bulb-outs,” on several intersections within the Chinatown District. The design of the bulb-outs is incompatible with the historic character of the district. They do not comply with either the intent of the City’s Special District to enhance historic character, nor the standards and guidelines for treatment of historic properties.

Recently, DTS issued its annual Complete Streets Program Report to the City Council. DTS identified 40 new locations for bulb-outs in the Downtown/Chinatown area, with 25 to be installed along Maunakea Avenue and Nu‘uanu Avenue. The timeline calls for the work to be conducted between 2018-2020.

The bulb-outs undermine the historic character of the district and have been detrimental to area businesses. I urge Council to prohibit their use in the Chinatown and to save the character of the historic district’s streetscape.

Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]

Mahalo for helping protect Hawaii’s heritage!