The design for a planned residential tower near Walmart’s urban Honolulu store no longer has a front door for market-priced condominium buyers and a side door for moderate-income renters.

City Council member Kymberly Pine announced the change today after discussions between the tower’s developer, ProsPac Holding Group, and key community stakeholders including affordable-housing advocates who raised concerns over the tower design.

“I am extremely grateful that all parties have resolved their differences and made delivering these highly needed affordable housing units in the heart of the Ala Moana corridor a priority,” Pine said in a statement.

Pine had canceled a Dec. 5 Zoning and Housing Committee discussion on the ProsPac project because of concerns over the tower design featuring an entrance for the affordable rental apartments along Makaloa Street and a separate unconnected entry along Keeaumoku Street for condo units.

According to a City Department of Planning and Permitting report, the original tower design featured commercial tenant spaces on the first two floors and affordable rentals on levels three through eight facing Makaloa on the outside of the tower’s parking garage. The 9th floor included some condo units and amenities exclusively for condo residents. The 10th and 11th floors contained more affordable rentals while the 12th through 41st floors contained condos.

Though DPP recommended approval of the plan, some community members criticized the separate entryways derided as a “poor door.”

Pine’s announcement said the poor door has been eliminated by connecting both entrances via a corridor, and allowing apartment and condo residents to use either entryway.

Affordable tower plan by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd