Nestled in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kaimuki, a partially constructed building at 3615 Sierra Drive has become a focal point of contention.
One of Hawaii’s so-called “monster homes” — unusually large residences, sometimes occupied by dozens of people — the structure has stood incomplete for three years, drawing criticism from residents and scrutiny from city officials.
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“It’s really just a disguised apartment house with inadequate parking, so as a nearby resident, I think it really should just be torn down,” a Kaimuki resident said, according to KHON2 News in a story published May 27.
Here’s the story behind the property, and why residents are so unhappy.
What’s happening?
Three years ago, the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) revoked the property’s building permit after discovering discrepancies between the approved plans and the actual construction, per KHON2 News. A report by Hawai’i Public Radio says the structure exceeded the city’s floor area ratio threshold, had more bathrooms and wet bars than permitted and lacked sufficient side and rear yards.
After an appeal by the property owner was denied, new building permit applications to comply with the ordinance were filed, which are under review by the DPP, according to KHON2 News. A department spokesperson told the local broadcaster “the owner must pay a triple fee penalty for the permit, and possibly remove any portions of the work that do not comply with the monster homes ordinance.”
The DPP also noted that since 2022, 17 building permits have been revoked as part of a crackdown on such developments. Meanwhile, residents have voiced concerns about this particular unfinished building attracting illegal activity and being an eyesore.
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“I don’t think you can let these houses just sit there derelict indefinitely,” Elaine Evans told KHON2 News.
Another resident, Daniel, told the broadcaster: “Unfortunately, this monster home is very visible, that’s the problem … It’s just ugly.”
The problem with monster homes
Honolulu City Councillor Tyler Dos Santos-Tam spoke with KHON2 News last year to explain why monster homes can be a problem, particularly the one at 3615 Sierra Drive.
He described these homes as large and often stretching to the border of the lot. “Frequently, you’ll see numerous entry points — disguised as back doors or side doors — but really serving as the entrances to separate units. Monster homes will have dozens of bedrooms. At 3615 Sierra Drive, for example, the building had 19 bathrooms and 21 bedrooms.”
Unlike other parts of the city where there are high-rise buildings, this building was located in Kaimuki, “where no house has more than, say, five bedrooms,” Dos Santos-Tam said. Since the neighborhood wasn’t designed with high-density housing in mind, a monster home could potentially lead to problems.
“Assuming each bedroom goes to a separate person — which it often does — that’s potentially 21 new cars using street parking. That’s 21 new people using the area infrastructure — electrical, plumbing, water. That’s 21 new people who often aren’t attuned to the surrounding community. And this is assuming those people don’t have spouses, children, pets, etc.”
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
