MEDIA RELEASE

The final report by the American Institute of Architects Sustainable Design Assessment Team Program for Downtown Hilo is now available online.

It can be accessed on the American Institute of Architects website at: http://www.aia.org/about/initiatives/AIAS075426 (Click on Hilo Report), or on the EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 SildeShare website at: http://www.slideshare.net/edh2025/downtown-hilo-sdat-final-report.

In May 2009, a team of multi-disciplinary experts from around the country visited Hilo and met with stakeholders and the community to discuss ideas for the sustainable development of Downtown Hilo. Their recommendations are now contained in a 54-page report and include several suggestions including, Relocating Bayfront Highway, Designating Downtown Hilo as a Historic District, Developing a Form-Based Code, and Forming a Business Improvement District.

The SDAT program is an interdisciplinary community assistance program that focuses on principles of sustainability. Downtown Hilo was selected as a host community by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

The SDAT report is a valuable resource for implementation of the EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 Plan, and some of its recommendations may be used to update the Plan.

Building upon the SDAT Program, the Hawai‘i County Planning Department and the VisionKeepers were awarded $3,000 from the Group 70 Foundation Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The monies will be used toward updating the Action Plan and creating a Vision Map for EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025.

An EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 Survey is now available online! Please visit the EDH 2025 homepage to participate in the new survey at http://co.hawaii.hi.us/edh2025. Your input is vital for beginning the Action Plan Update!

EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 is a grassroots community planning and implementation process in collaboration with the County of Hawai‘i Planning Department.

For more information about the SDAT report, or if you are interested in helping to implement the Plan, visit the EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 Website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us/edh2025 or contact Kylie Alexandra via email: edh2025@gmail.com