A 160-unit, $20 million senior housing complex is being proposed for Hilo under a government-private partnership.

The Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood Project would be built on 15.9 acres at the northwest corner of Mohouli and Komohana streets.

The state-owned land is controlled by Hawai'i County, which has been authorized to negotiate a 75-year lease with the Hawaii Island Community Development Corp., a nonprofit that would build and run the facility.

"We're just happy to be getting as far as we are," HICDC Executive Director Keith Kato said Friday. "We're looking forward to getting this project completed and opened."

Before that may happen, however, land-use approvals, various state and county permits, and a lease with the county will be needed.

Kato said he expects the yearly rent to be $10, noting that's what the county is charging for land on which HICDC built the 30-unit Kino'ole Street project in Hilo.

The much larger Mohouli project will be targeted toward people age 62 and older who meet low-income criteria, defined as less than 80 percent of the island's median income, Kato said.

Federal rental and construction assistance is available for housing those folks, but not for higher-wage earners, making housing projects for that demographic more difficult, he said.

Still, Kato said, "We'd like to see a mixture of people in the project."

There's a big need for low-income senior housing. A recent county study identified a Big Island housing "crisis," with at least 6,000 households lacking affordable or adequate housing.

The island's resident population of people 60 years old and older soared 195 percent between 1970 and 2000, or 17,264 individuals, according to statistics compiled by the county's Office of Aging.

During the same period, the percentage of seniors also increased from 13.9 percent of the total population to 17.6 percent.

"Based on the response we got from the Kino'ole project, there were a lot of people interested in that one," Kato said of that project, which now has a waiting list.

"I think 160 units will keep us occupied for a while," he added. "Beyond that, we don't have any (other development) plans."

The multi-unit complex of 30- to 40-unit clusters will be built over five years. Kato estimated that won't begin until 2011 or 2012 due to the time needed to obtain the necessary approvals.

"The proposed project is envisioned as an integrated series of senior residences focused around a central activity core," states a draft environmental assessment triggered by the use of government land.

Most of the 160 units would have one bedroom, although studio and two-bedroom apartments could be built if there is demand for them, according to the draft assessment.

The "central activity core" could include a transit center "for easy pick-up and drop-off, beauty/barber shop, small convenience retail space, visiting doctor office, office space for visiting agencies, activity rooms, mini-theater, central kitchen, dining area and exercise room," the assessment states.

Raised garden plots, potting shed, exercise path, fenced dog run, barbecue areas and related amenities could be among the project's exterior features.

People can send comments on the project to planning consultant Brian Nishimura, 101 Aupuni St., Suite 217, Hilo, HI 96720.

The comment period ends April 7, Nishimura said.