BY KHYOMARA SANTANA PEREZ
Journal Staff
The construction of the new member center for Coast360 Federal Credit Union, which was initially postponed by COVID-19 is now in sight of completion this year.
Gener F. Deliquina, CEO of Coast360, told the Journal the credit union plans to open the center on Marine Corps Drive in upper Tumon later this year. “Right now, we’re in the middle of inspections for our occupancy permit, the building is pretty much over 95% complete,” Deliquina said. “We’re hoping we’ll be able to open sometime in the fourth quarter." Deliquina said the total size of the project is 20,000 square feet. The credit union is in the midst of inspections to receive the occupancy and building permits. Until the project is complete, Deliquina said he is unable to disclose updates on project costs.
The new member center will staff about 30 to 40 employees, he said.
Honhui Tumon Bay Hotel, a resort proposed to be built in the four-and-a-half-acre lot of the former Royal Palm Hotel property, has no updates on where the project stands at the moment, according to Brent L. Wiese, managing principal for Guam of RIM Architects.
The Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Municipal Planning Council voted against the proposed 37-story hotel in March because of its height of up to 492 feet and close proximity to the shoreline.
The decision on whether to abide by the TATUHA Planning Council’s vote or override it rests with the Guam Land Use Commission.
However, Wiese told the journal that the project will proceed.
At the moment, the project is status quo, according to the GLUC. Frank P. Taitano, case planner said, “There were issues that need to be addressed by the applicant and the Department [of Land Management].” The project will remain status quo until all the issues are addressed, he said.
According to Journal files Wiese said in July 2021 that the hotel would be the tallest structure to be built in Guam and probably the resort with the highest room capacity.
Don Don Donki – originally planned to open its Guam store – also called the Village of Donki according to its signage – in September 2021. That date was announced at its Feb. 10, 2020-groundbreaking.
COVID-19 delayed construction, Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp. told the Guam Economic Development Authority during discussions on its Qualifying Certificate, which is a limited one. The $114 million store will now open in 2024, according to Journal sources. The company is currently recruiting staff at all levels. According to the QC, Don Don Donki will employ 200 people at the retail outlet.
Aside from new developments, Pacific Islands Club Guam will have one of the towers of the hotel repaired due to damage to its exterior during Typhoon Mawar. Ben H. Ferguson, general manager of PIC, said the damage the building underwent was superficial and not structural.
Ferguson was unable to provide estimates on repair costs since the hotel is still in the bidding process, which is not without difficulty, he said.
“One of the challenges that we all face these days is that contractors are extremely busy because everybody had lots of needs. So, there’s been some delays in actually obtaining quotations. So, once the quotations are done and the contractor is selected, we don’t expect the timeframe to be that lengthy in terms of repairing it,” Ferguson said. – Maureen N. Maratita contributed to this story. mbj
