Funding in the millions needed

Second part of a series

With the creation of the Garapan Revitalization Task Force under the Office of Planning & Development, the fate of the Garapan business and tourist district is taking a turn from neglect and deterioration to hope. From a practical standpoint, though, that project is going to have a tab that will run into the millions of dollars. That’s where potential federal funding could come in, according to Chris Concepcion, who is spearheading the GRTF as OPD deputy director.

“We have to be realistic with rising costs, given the unstable workforce and prevailing wage issues,” he said. “…We also have initial estimates to clean up Garapan, provide a proper drainage system, resurface streets, construct curbs, gutters, sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping and all of it is in the millions of dollars.”

According to Concepcion, GRTF is working with agency partners to secure federal funding to pay for major infrastructure upgrades. That includes the underground drainage, storm water runoff control, and other basic infrastructure needs.

“This is a multi-phase plan that will take several years to fully complete but we have to start somewhere and now is the time,” he said.

The ultimate aim is to transform Garapan into a premier family-friendly destination and affirm its claim as the center of economic activity and the heart of Saipan’s tourism industry. “There are too many things to do and not enough time, but we…[are] excited to see things finally progress,” said Concepcion.

The first phase of the GRTF plan will cover what’s called the “Garapan Core,” which covers the area from the American Memorial Park west toward Hyatt Regency Saipan and Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, all of the Hotel Street area, south along Beach Road to T Galleria by DFS and Hard Rock Café. Eventually, improvements would continue toward Kristo Rai Church and all properties in between.

“We deem this area to be crucial for the economy and our tourism industry. …Eventually, we must move into parking, street resurfacing, construction of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping,” Concepcion said.

The OPD is currently is working with former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann and his partners, Waikiki Improvement District Association president Rick Egged and Greg Hirata, to form the Special Improvement District for Garapan. The Special Improvement District will ensure the coordinated management and long-term sustainability of Garapan in terms of physical, economic and cultural environment.

In an earlier interview, Egged said that building Waikiki as a tourist destination took years of learning and development that other places like the CNMI can learn from. “We had to know Waikiki through and through in order to address what needs to be developed and improved on. We recognize that Waikiki Beach is our single and most important asset and so we started really caring for it,” he said.

Concepcion said they want to replicate Waikiki’s success in Garapan. “Hannemann, Egged, and Hirata have extensive experience dealing with improvement districts and have been very successful in forming the Waikiki Special Improvement District.”

“Today you can see the fruits of their labor. Waikiki has become a world-class, must-see destination in and of itself. We aim to replicate that success in Garapan but on a much smaller scale because Waikiki is, of course, much larger,” he added.

Concepcion’s office, the OPD, is under the Office of the Governor.