Construction is under way for what may be the first new condominium project to be built in Wahiawa in decades.

The project, called Parkside at Kilani, will feature 28 condominium units spread through 14 two-story buildings on Kilani Street, across from Wahiawa District Park. The first building is scheduled to be completed in late June, with the entire project expected to be finished by early spring 2008, said Daniel Kaneshiro, principal broker at Real Estate Source LLC, which opened a sales office for the project recently.

Real Estate Source said Parkside at Kilani is the first new-construction project to open in Wahiawa in several decades.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom units begin at 1,232 square feet, with design options that include loft spaces and expanded open lanais. Two units have basement options to expand to 2,400 square feet.

The condo prices, which begin in the mid-$400,000s, are within the median price range for the area, Kaneshiro said. He said Real Estate Source has been collecting reservations from people including military families moving to O'ahu as well as local buyers.

Longtime Wahiawa resident Silvia Koch said she likes the design of the project and that it may help improve the image of the area, where the main thoroughfare is lined with fast-food restaurants, car lots and a church across the street from an adult entertainment store.

"The new development that's coming up sounds really nice; it's progressive, it's innovative," said Koch, secretary of the Wahiawa Neighborhood Board. "But I think it will cater only to those who can afford it.

"I'm more concerned about those who can't, and we have many of those in the Wahiawa area and the Central O'ahu area," she said. The price "is probably within the median range for most homes in the area, but it's still high."

The owner and developer, Falahud Shams of Chicago, also owns the apartment building next to the project and "he felt the demand for housing in the area, and he wanted to develop quality housing at an affordable price," said Kaneshiro. The 1.5-acre site was a vacant lot, he said.

The project builder is Metcalf Construction Co., and the project architect is Architechnology.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.