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Without governmental involvement, there can be no design district. So yes, I am ready. I view goverment involvement as a complete neutral. I don't know why people fear government so. I am thinking they should probably fear anarchy --including design anarchy in places of particular charm-- more. It is only the effect of that government involvement that is positive or neutral. It would be a definite positive if the governmental involvement serves an important community purpose, such as the development and enforcement of a design distrct. And, for now, there can be landscaping by working with Long's to make it so.
I accept your underlying point that until there is a such a design district, the design is purely within the purview of the developer.
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Glen, as always you have made some great points with your truly fantastic wit and marvelous sense of humor. This thread has been very exciting for me to read because I'm truly interested in people's ideas about "landscaping" and development.
The thing that keeps coming into my mind is that Woodland Center IS landscaped.
The County requires developers to install landscaping for commercial developments per Rule 17 in their Rules and Procedures. (You can find that on the Hi Co planning website if you wanna know)
In theory these rules are pretty progressive. Their stated purpose includes buffering roadways and adjacent property from noise and visual impacts, enhancing streetscapes by maintaining a human scale and promoting ecological and cultural values. Some of these rules are very specific, like you gotta plant 1 tree per 12 parking spaces. But in the end, what actually gets designed and installed may fulfill one person's interpretation of the rules but not another's.
In fact, many, if not most of the young plants installed there in the parking lot and along the buildings are native to Hawai'i. But none of them will ever "hide" the very large boxes that could be anywhere USA.
Honestly, that would be a difficult task to accomplish for a shopping center of this size, and on top of that developers don't want to hide their buildings at all. They want them to be easily seen so that a steady flow of customers will keep the rents paid on time. Plus landscaping costs money and takes up valuable land that could be used for parking, signage etc.
No, it doesn't have to be this way, but it won't ever change unless there are clear guidelines that reflect the vision of the community and community input in the design process.
I also feel that the new buildings don't seem to really "fit" the image of Pahoa Town, but as Rob, Bob and others bring up, if there are no design standards in place anything goes, and more often than not the result is...well, fugly.
Uluhe Design
Native Landscape Design
uluhedesign@yahoo.com
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Glen, you can't even get people to follow existing rules and regulations in the Puna District, why should commercial development be held to a higher standard? Facts are Facts, the general feeling in the District is one of less government, less government involvement, less government interference, less government mandates, less government everything, and you want a government imposed and controlled design district?
When you can get people to accept the need to build toilets on their property maybe the District is ready for design standards. Until that happens, you are getting exactly what fits the community. The reality is; the Puna District is still a free-for-all community in many people’s minds. There were rules in place for entities like SPACE, yet the community didn’t want to follow those government rules and wanted exception this and that. You can’t even follow what exist, much less a mandated design standard? The door was opened and the people said loud and clear “we don’t need no stinking rules”. I see no reason a developer shouldn’t take that exact same stand. Who the hell is government to tell a commercial developer they have to follow rules when the people don’t require others to follow rules?
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It would have been nice if the Longs/KFC/Burger King design had been a little more esthetically pleasing, but there has been a decided lack of appreciation for the fact that the outlets are there at all. How many new stores and businesses have you seen opening on our side of the Island recently - and especially in "off the beaten track" places like Pahoa? The more we require businesses to jump through hoops before allowing them to build, the more we're going to see companies saying "no thanks" to investing (as in "taking a risk with their/shareholders money") i new development. You get a beautiful McDonalds in Williamsburg because Williamsburg delivers millions of hungry tourists to McD's doors every year, thereby justifying the cost. It remains to be seen whether these three businesses will generate enough traffic to remain profitable, but for the time being, I'm prepared to give them a bit of a design "pass" considering that there are now jobs in Pahoa that weren't there before, there are outlets for necessities and pleasantries (KFC and BK are one or the other for many of us!) that don't necessitate a drive all the way to Hilo, and there is competition for Malama Market, which may help drive prices down a bit.
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Actually the Longs did what it could to fit in in its way. It is a false front "western" style with top moulding. True, it is made with low maintenance insulated panels instead of moldy wood in need of constant painting but they did make an effort. Looking at the ass end from the highway leaves a lot to be desired. It is a new level of jobs and services for Puna and if it succeeds others will follow.
Taking that in to count the overall affect still comes off almost as "anywhere" USA though.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Businesses that are everywhere are bound to build stores that look like they could be "anywhere". Welcome to the United States of Generica.
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quote:
Originally posted by Glen
Without governmental involvement, there can be no design district. So yes, I am ready. I view goverment involvement as a complete neutral. I don't know why people fear government so.
I think people fear government because bureaucracy is often blind and deaf to mitigating circumstance, regulations designed to cover a broad swath of the populace are often stifling, and those in power usually can be swayed by monied interests, thus rendering their "neutrality" suspect. But that's just me.
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which may help drive prices down a bit.
ME: Probably not. My husband, on an ever vigilant quest for the best price for a 24 pack of Diet Coke, stopped into Long's Saturday only to find the price for a 12 pack is more than most places for a 24 pack. He cruised the aisles and saw no 'deals' and he is a 'deals' guy.
Malama's competition should be Pahoa Cash and Carry and the Health Food Store, both located in Pahoa town. BK and KFC defintely will appeal to some but we should not forget the many eateries located in Pahoa proper. I hope the community will not become so 'mall' centric that we lose the very places we enjoy patronizing most, like the restaurants, specialty shops, etc. I think there should be a significantly sized sign made available right at the Malama exit from the highway with the names of all the businesses Pahoa Village road gives the motorist access to! For the tourist who is looking for the 'local' experience, the sign would provide a bit of a visual to let them know there is more to Pahoa than immediately meets the eye at H-130 & Pahoa Village Rd.
Toni, who is a 'critter lover'
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"Q might have done the right thing for the wrong reason, perhaps we need a good kick in our complacency to get us ready for what's ahead" -- Captain Picard, to Guinan (Q Who?)
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Regarding no "deals" @Longs...I beg to differ. I bought a specialized red wine from Argentina for $3.00 less than what I thought was a great price @ Cost U Less in Hilo. The price of my organic gluten-free pasta is also $3.00 less than Pahoa Naturals as is any organic tea that I drink. These are just a couple of examples that are significant for me. Personally, I am loving the competition so far.
Yeah, I wish the building didn't slap me in the face every time I see it but I realized long ago that Generica is here to stay no matter how hard I try to stop it.
Wyline
Wyline
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quote:
Originally posted by critterlover
Malama's competition should be Pahoa Cash and Carry and the Health Food Store, both located in Pahoa town. BK and KFC defintely will appeal to some but we should not forget the many eateries located in Pahoa proper.
Pahoa Cash and Carry is good for beer, on the way to Ning's for dinner. Not much else. It is a relic of a store, with ancient merchandise. Sorry, that is just true. And the Natch is... well, unique. They are often out of what you went there specifically to get, and they always tell you to come back on Tuesday or Thursday, or whatever... and then they are still out of whatever it is. To actually order something that a customer has expressed an interest in seems beyond them. But whatever. So Malama will have to compete with Longs. I don't need Diet Coke, or Cheetos (well maybe Cheetos every once in a while)... but seriously, all I really need is organic, fresh, choice, and cheap. And may the better store win.
As for eateries in Pahoa... the restaurants in town rank among the finest on the entire island. We are lucky to have the eateries we have in Old Town Pahoa. KFC and BK don't even register on that same radar screen. To those who disagree... go for it. Spend your money at KFC. Have a BK broiler for breakfast. I'll pass. More for you... I'm going to Kaleo's.
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