A proposal to build a new high-rise apartment building has sparked controversy in Mōʻiliʻili, with some residents upset over the size and scope of the plan.

Mōʻiliʻili Neighborhood Board Vice Chair Morgan Lee says the community would benefit from the apartment building and pointed to what the project’s developers said in a presentation to the board last year.

“The developers are trying to build housing that teachers, that firefighters, teachers, and other hardworking Hawaii people can actually afford,” she said. “Given our state’s urgent need not only of housing, but of housing priced at rates of households making less than $100k a year, I support this project moving forward as fast as possible.”

But those opposed to the proposal say they’re concerned about the large size of the building and the location at the west end of Waialae Avenue, next to one of the main entrances to UH’s sports facilities.

“There is already a lot of traffic around that area, the building would take up so much space and a lot of people are being forced to move out of their places to allow for this building,” said UH Manoa student and Mōʻiliʻili resident Izzy Fergus.

Despite concerns, some residents support the development.

“I think that it is a welcome addition, not just to the neighborhood but to Hawaii in general. It has been too long since a project like this has been undertaken to specifically target the issue of affordable housing in Hawaii,” said Joseph Hakim, Resident Assistant of Kalo Student Terrace and long term resident of Mōʻiliʻili.

The City Council has given the plan the green light, but developers still need to secure funding for the $124 million project.