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New Senior Community Breaks Ground in Ewa

Franciscan Vistas Ewa senior living community will feature 149 affordable rental apartments on six acres as well as a community center.

St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii broke ground on Jan. 21 for its Franciscan Vistas Ewa, a senior independent living community in Ewa Villages. The project addresses two critical needs: affordable housing and access to healthcare for the island’s rapidly growing elder population.

“The sisters of St. Francis in Hawaii have a long history of looking at the most pressing needs in the community and then working toward meeting those needs,” says Sister Agnelle Ching, OSF, CEO of St. Francis Healthcare System. “We appreciate all our partners who share our vision in creating healthier communities.”
This first phase of the senior living community will feature 149 one and two-bedroom affordable rental apartments on six acres along with a community center. Apartments, ranging from 530 square feet to 750 square feet, will be for seniors age 62 and above with households earning up to $45,660 for a family of two or up to 60 percent of the area median income. A portion of the apartments will be made available to lower income seniors making up to 30 percent of the area median income.
The 5,000-square-foot community center will serve as a gathering place for residents, offering a broad range of health, recreation, and social and cultural programs and activities.

Sister Agnelle Ching, St. Francis Healthcare System CEO, gives the official go-ahead to William Kauhane of Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc. to begin sitework.

The design and construction team includes Alakea Design Group (architecture), Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc. (sitework), Coastal Construction Co., Inc. (building) and Royal Contracting Co. (landscaping). Stanford Carr Development is providing development consulting services.
In addition, unlike any other planned living community in Hawaii, Franciscan Vistas Ewa will offer a health and wellness program of St. Francis Healthcare System that helps seniors live independently. The program provides access to a range of supportive care services, including case management, transportation, chore services, meal preparation and advance life planning.
Funding for the project was made possible through a number of public and private agencies, including the state and city. Wells Fargo Bank, Alliant Capital Ltd., American Savings Bank, and CUSO of Hawaii Services, LLC are its private lenders and investors. The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foun-dation, Rural Community Assistance Corp. and Bank of Hawaii provided predevelopment financing.
“This is the right time to move forward because we also see the additional benefits of creating jobs in our community,” adds Ching.
The second phase of the development includes unrestricted market rate for-sale units (single-family cluster homes and entry-level townhomes) and an intergenerational day center. These additional components will result in an integrated community providing a wide range of benefits for the surrounding neighborhood. Plans are under way to commence the next phase soon.
The organization purchased 23 acres of vacant, uncultivated land on Renton Road from the City & County of Honolulu in 2003.