Project developers, architects, designers project managers and contractors of the Ritz-Carton Residences participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the second tower. From left, Gregg Kodama, Russell Young, Brendan Guerin, Brett Hill, Lance Wilhelm, Jason Grosfeld, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Mike Pepper, Scott Glass and Casey Federman.
California-based developer Irongate officially started construction on its second Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach tower on Tuesday as sounds of construction activity continued at its first tower next door on Kuhio Avenue.
While the first 324-unit, 37-story “West” tower, which is more than halfway built, nears completion in early 2016, community and business leaders — including Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who arrived straight from his 2015 State of the City address — gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony for the “East” tower.
It also was the first groundbreaking for newly-minted Irongate Managing Principal Lance Wilhelm, who for many years, attended these types of ceremonies as a general contractor with Kiewit.
The 246-unit, 37-story second tower is expected to be completed in 2017. Both projects are expected to account for more than 600 construction jobs.
The developer declined to reveal the estimated development cost of the projects, as well as exact sales of the two towers. However, Wilhelm previously told PBN that the first tower was sold out.
In July, the developer said that about 80 percent of the units in the second tower had been sold. According to a fact sheet about the project handed out on Tuesday, the developer said that 88 percent of its oceanview residences have been sold to buyers primarily from Japan, the Mainland and other parts of Asia.
Remaining studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units are priced from $998,800 to $3.5 million, with penthouse units priced from $6.75 million to $25 million, the developer said.
Located at 2121 Kuhio Ave., next to the Luxury Row of retailers that include Tiffany & Co., Chanel and Gucci, the project will include Hawaii’s first Dean & DeLuca, Sushi Sho, BLT Market, BLT Bar & Grill and a yet-to-be-announced locally-owned produce and grocery market.
The project’s architect is New York-based Guerin Glass & Associates, with Honolulu-based Brett Hill Construction Inc. as project manager, Honolulu-based Albert C. Kobayashi Inc. as general contractor and California-based Jon Brent Design as its interior designer.
Irongate founder Jason Grosfeld, who also is the managing member of Pacrep LLC, which is developing the Waikiki Ritz-Carlton projects, told PBN that it has no other projects on the drawing board yet in Hawaii.
This project is the first Ritz-Carlton Residences-branded property on Oahu. There are Ritz-Carlton-branded properties on both Maui and the Big Island.
Duane Shimogawa Reporter – Pacific Business News
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