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International Market Place Will be horribly razed |
Kaiwaza
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 06, 2003
Posts: 411
From: Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
|  Posted: 2013-01-23 1:12 pm Permalink
There have been several plans to tear down the place over the past few years. Hopefully, this one will BITE THE DUST as well. I know I sound like a broken record, but IMP is the LAST place in Waikiki you can go & feel like you're in a jungle..that isn't concrete. What are there plans? Oh..a seven story shopping center..full of Gucci, Prada, Louis Vitton & everything else we ALREADY have 2 or 3 of in Honolulu. ENOUGH ALREADY! It just makes me SICK, absolutely SICK.
And the clueless, idiotic local officials claim "how wonderful" it will be. They disgust me.
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AceExplorer
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 327
From: Deep in the Jacksonville Florida jungle.
| Posted: 2013-01-23 1:44 pm Permalink
Methinks their definition of "wonderful" is directly related to making more money... I share your disappointment and also hope something comes to rescue IMP.
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3621
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2013-01-23 9:04 pm Permalink
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On 2013-01-23 09:43, AceExplorer wrote:
It would be great to make another trip out there this year before it's gone for good.
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Absolutely. Hopefully, this sad news will make some of us make the trip happen.
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robbie_silver
Member
Joined: Jan 19, 2013
Posts: 5
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada
| Posted: 2013-01-24 7:28 pm Permalink
International Market Place was the bomb back in the day (my day being the 80's). Anybody remember Dilip - the guy who would paint designs on folks' fingernails? I remember being at the Market Place bar/restaurant for a few New Years' Eve shows featuring Fat Eddie - that guy was just classic. What an entertainer. And I remember picking up a VHS copy of Elvis' 68 Comeback Special in the Elvis shop upstairs. Even the food court in IMP was awesome. I haven't been there since 2001 and by that time Waikiki had lost its old school laid back charm, in my opinion. But I guess you see things differently as you grow older. Booze helps this (I am drinking a Jungle Bird in a vintage Do Ho glass from an IMP show currently).
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AceExplorer
Grand Member (2 years)
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 327
From: Deep in the Jacksonville Florida jungle.
| Posted: 2013-01-25 07:15 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2013-01-23 13:44, AceExplorer wrote:
Methinks their definition of "wonderful" is directly related to making more money... I share your disappointment and also hope something comes to rescue IMP.
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I've been thinking about this quite a bit, I have many fond memories of the IMP, Waikiki, etc. I'm adding to what I wrote yesterday... The IMP revitalization plan is the developer's and city's effort to rescue the IMP. I can't blame 'em, the place is not currently a hot spot. Things (and times) have changed. Back in 1991, when I made my first visit to the Islands, I remember that the IMP was still very high on the list of "must see" places. This is not so today, and there are many things competing for tourist dollars in Honolulu. Still, it is hard for anyone to deny that the IMP is a very unique offering in an area which, I think, really benefits from it. The IMP balances out the overkill of high-end concrete-and-steel which surrounds it. It is a very nice patch of "jungle park" and I always enjoy cruising through there and relaxing a bit, especially on a hot day. And if nothing else, the food court at the back is a great place to get some quick eats without killing a bunch of time (and a bunch of bucks) in a restaurant. Among many other things it really helps the budget-conscious traveler.
I know the land must be worth a lot of money, and it is probably judged to be underproducing financially for the owners. The city is also eyeing the increased tax revenue which redevelopment would bring. If it does get torn out and redeveloped, I hope they will at least preserve some of the jungle-ness and charm of the place. This is, after all, a development on a tropical island and it would be a shame to lose that perspective especially in an area which has been built up with generally the opposite sort of feel.
Thanks to the tiki gods for Tiki Central and our ability to remember and preserve what we have left of the fun things from the past.
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3621
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2013-01-25 07:50 am Permalink
The lease $$$$ supports the Queen Emma Hospital in Honolulu, possibly the largest hospital in Hawaii, and one of its larger private employers. So the cash goes to a good cause and a hospitals operating costs are very, very high, especially if Medicare patients, as that insurance pays only like 20 percent of the bill.
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AceExplorer
Grand Member (2 years)
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 327
From: Deep in the Jacksonville Florida jungle.
| Posted: 2013-01-25 08:23 am Permalink
Thanks, christiki295, I didn't know that. Indeed, a good cause it is!
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3621
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2013-01-26 07:49 am Permalink
Yes, a good cause. Nevertheless, still disappointing that the development does not show more historical preservation sensitivity to the IMP. After all, there is more than enough land.
And, I hate to think of that huge landmark Banyan tree being cut down.
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Kaiwaza
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 06, 2003
Posts: 411
From: Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
| Posted: 2013-01-26 10:08 am Permalink
I don't care if it's for starving children in Africa. The LAST thing Waikiki needs is MORE high-end
"Rodeo drive-looking"retail ..and that's EXACTLY what they are planning for the space. And our local officials are quite backward-thinking in terms of preservation: historical & otherwise.
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3621
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2013-01-26 11:52 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-11-27 13:32, Sabu The Coconut Boy wrote:
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The same facade could be maintained, with the hotel and mall on either side.
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3621
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2013-01-27 12:57 am Permalink
At least the plan saves the banyan tree, according to section 2.1.
At least that much will be preserved.
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hang10tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 18, 2010
Posts: 2072
From: Las Vegas
| Posted: 2013-03-11 5:53 pm Permalink
Found these 5 postcards today.
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2013-03-12 08:49 am Permalink
from the proposal document :
The International Market Place Revitalization Project (Project) includes the demolition of all
buildings and structures on the project site (about 499,000 square feet of commercial space)
and construction of a new retail, dining and entertainment center (about 390,000 square feet of
commercial space). The 5.982-acre project site fronts Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues and is
mid-block between Kaiulani and Seaside Avenues in Waikiki. It contains the International
Market Place (IMP), Waikiki Town Center and the Miramar at Waikiki hotel (Miramar).
The redeveloped commercial center will be generally three levels in height, however, the portion
fronting Kuhio Avenue will have a seven-story structure consisting of two levels of retail on the
Ewa side and three levels of retail on the Diamond Head side with five levels of parking above
(the existing parking structures serving the IMP, Waikiki Town Center and Miramar are located
on this portion of the site).
The Project is not anticipated to have a significant direct, indirect, secondary or cumulative
impact on the surrounding area in terms of public services and the environment primarily
because of the proposed net reduction in the total floor area for the combined properties. "
What a bummer.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10605
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2013-03-12 09:34 am Permalink
Such a great site for fun urban archeology - completely razed 
Quote:
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"The Project is not anticipated to have a significant direct, indirect, secondary or cumulative
impact on the surrounding area in terms of public services and the environment primarily
because of the proposed net reduction in the total floor area for the combined properties. "
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Yeah, right!
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Hale Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 19, 2004
Posts: 1608
From: Pittsburgh
| Posted: 2013-03-12 11:00 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2013-03-12 08:49, tikiyaki wrote:
from the proposal document :
The International Market Place Revitalization Project (Project) includes the demolition of all
buildings and structures on the project site (about 499,000 square feet of commercial space)
and construction of a new retail, dining and entertainment center (about 390,000 square feet of
commercial space). The 5.982-acre project site fronts Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues and is
mid-block between Kaiulani and Seaside Avenues in Waikiki. It contains the International
Market Place (IMP), Waikiki Town Center and the Miramar at Waikiki hotel (Miramar).
The redeveloped commercial center will be generally three levels in height, however, the portion
fronting Kuhio Avenue will have a seven-story structure consisting of two levels of retail on the
Ewa side and three levels of retail on the Diamond Head side with five levels of parking above
(the existing parking structures serving the IMP, Waikiki Town Center and Miramar are located
on this portion of the site).
The Project is not anticipated to have a significant direct, indirect, secondary or cumulative
impact on the surrounding area in terms of public services and the environment primarily
because of the proposed net reduction in the total floor area for the combined properties. "
What a bummer.
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Above ground parking garages these days are always sooooo pretty!
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