WAILUKU — An 8.8-acre property that includes old college dorms is being considered as a possible site for a county homeless or affordable rental facility.

Since 1980, the University of Hawaii Maui College has been leasing four of the acres from the county for student housing. But now with the college willing to give up its lease, the county plans to study whether the land could be used for affordable housing, Department of Housing and Human Concerns Director Carol Reimann told council members

Tuesday.

“It is our hope to have affordable rentals — it is close to community amenities such as shops, transportation, parks, schools, et cetera,” Reimann said during a Housing, Human Services and Transportation Committee meeting.

Located at the corner of Kaahumanu and Wahinepio avenues, the parcel contains a recreation center and three dorm structures, each with four apartments, now vacant, Reimann explained. Several years ago, the college had planned to set up a hospitality training academy on the site. But now administrators have decided to build a training facility on the existing campus. With the lease set to end in 2035, the college is willing to let the county use the property for other plans.

Earlier this year, the council set aside up to $100,000 “to explore termination of lease and assessment of structure for possible use as county homeless facility,” committee Chairwoman Stacy Crivello said.

With the funding, the department will hire a consulting firm to study the county’s options, which include renovating the old dorms or demolishing and rebuilding them. If the study calls for demolition, the college has the funding for the work and is willing to do it as long as it can still lease the property, Reimann said.

Details of the project, such as the number of buildings and units, will have to wait until the study is completed. The department also has discussed making the facility part homeless shelter and part affordable rentals.

Some council members were skeptical of the idea. Council Member Riki Hokama said he’d rather see the project focus on affordable rentals.

“I’m still not convinced that our homeless priorities are set right,” Hokama said. “I don’t have a problem helping those that want help. But I’m tired of spending money for those that don’t want it. We’ve got other places to put that money. That’s the money that should go into affordables.”

Crivello said it came down to what need was most urgent.

“I think they’re both pressing issues,” Reimann said of homelessness and affordable housing. “But depending on what we’re able to do with the existing structures will determine how we move forward.”

Council members were generally supportive of the project and encouraged the department to move forward quickly while also seeking community input.

“We understand time is of the essence, and we will be pushing forward,” Reimann responded.

Monique Yamashita, chief executive officer of Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center, listened in on Tuesday’s meeting and thought the project was “a great idea.” She also hoped it would lean more toward affordable housing or rentals.

“I think our homeless shelter needs are fully met, but we definitely need more affordable housing,” Yamashita said.

* Colleen Uechi can be reached at cuechi@mauinews.com.