Museum expansion OK'd
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The city has approved a plan to expand the Contemporary Museum in Makiki Heights.
The conditional-use permit will allow the museum to build new exhibition space for its permanent collection, provide space for educational programs, and create additional storage and parking. Construction on the $15.5 million project is expected to begin early next year and take about a year to complete.
"Approval of this permit gives us the ability to preserve this historic site and better serve the community," said Violet Loo, president of the museum's board. "Being able to provide space for more of our permanent collection and add use of the adjacent property we have recently acquired could ensure the preservation of this beautiful 4-acre site."
Space is tight at the museum, and only about 2 percent of the collection can be on exhibit. The new wing will allow the museum to display up to 10 percent of the collection.
"Our collections have been in hiding," said Georgianna Lagoria, the museum's director. "With the new galleries, we will be able to share them with our visitors."
The museum's expansion plan did receive some opposition from Makiki Heights residents who said a larger facility could disrupt their quiet community. Many said they were concerned with the the possibility of increased traffic and noise because more people would be able to use the museum.
In May 2005, a motion to support the expansion failed to receive enough votes before the Makiki/Lower Punchbowl/Tantalus Neighborhood Board.
Board member Richard Kawano voted against the plan, although he said he enjoys the museum.
"I struggled with that vote, but I voted against it because of the public testimony," Kawano said. "There was good testimony on both sides."
Kawano said some residents accused the Contemporary Museum officials of violating terms of a 1986 agreement with the community regarding operations at the museum, which is housed in a structure that was built as a residence in 1925. These conditions included operating hours, noise and museum capacity.
"From what we've heard, success became a problem. As they got more and more successful, more and more people came up there," Kawano said.
Lagoria said yesterday that she was not aware of any violations of the agreement. She added that any new concerns were addressed during the permit process.
"I really think that what we'd like to focus on is the fact that finally after going through all of this process, we do have our conditional-use permit," Lagoria said.
Anyone wishing to appeal the granting of the permit has 30 days to file a petition with the city Zoning Board of Appeals.
Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: An agreement between the Contemporary Museum and the community concerning the museum’s expansion plans was reached in 1986. The year was incorrect in a previous version of this story.
