kcerizo@mauinews.com
Maui County is mulling the purchase of a 6.3-acre, $9.8 million parcel in Wailuku that includes The Maui News buildings. Some testifiers and county officials say it would save the county money on rent, though others are concerned about making the purchase during the pandemic.
The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo
Testifiers and financial advisers used the county’s decision not to purchase One Main Plaza in arguing Wednesday that Maui County could save rent money by acquiring a 6.3-acre, $9.8 million parcel in Wailuku that includes The Maui News offices.
One Main Plaza, a six-story professional building housing several county agencies, has cost the county more than $21 million in rent and common area maintenance since 2006, county Finance Director Scott Teruya said during the Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting Wednesday night.