Neighbors have been complaining of what one calls the "earthquakelike noise" of construction of a 28-unit, four-story affordable rental complex in Wailuku's Sand Hills area, but a Maui County spokesman said that Friday was expected to be the last day of the disruptive work.
"The earth is shaking," said Michael Grammer, a neighbor living in an apartment at 493 Pio Drive. "The place literally shakes. You can't hear what anybody says. You can't do any work; can't get anything done."
A resident of the area since 1988, Grammer called The Maui News on Friday afternoon after calling state and county officials, but "everybody passes me on to someone else."
The intense noise began about three weeks ago, he said, halted the week after that and resumed this week, he said.
Grammer said he was given conflicting information about whether there was a permit to do construction at the site of the apartment complex at nearby 511 Imi Place. He said he did not see a permit displayed.
The project is at the end of a cul-de-sac already developed with apartment buildings overlooking Kahului Harbor. The $12.5 million Imi Ikena is financed in part by a $2.75 million loan from the county's affordable housing fund, which was used as leverage for additional financing.
County spokesman Rod Antone said the project does have all the required permits.
He said the noise has been caused by a "vibrational hammer," and that work was supposed to end Friday.
Antone said he talked this week to a representative of the construction company who said it was necessary to use either the vibrational hammer or a pile driver to put in the building's foundational supports. The pile driver would have been louder, he said he was told.
The construction company, which was not immediately identified, was between a "rock and a hard place," he said.
Antone said the construction company representative pledged to visit neighbors to find out about problems or any "actual damage." If it's necessary to use the same, loud equipment again, the neighbors would be informed, he said.
Grammer said the construction company was driving 30-foot beams.
He said his apartment is about 100 feet from the construction site, while there are two to three apartment complexes within 25 feet of it.
"I can't imagine what it's like where they are," he said.
* Brian Perry can be reached at bperry@mauinews.com.
