Base Housing Goes Upscale; Air Force Families Set to Move Into New Dover Homes
November 28, 2006
Wednesday, November 28, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephanie Sierra
November 2, 2006
Hunt Building Corporation
(915) 533-1122
By Gwen Guerke
Delaware State News
DOVER — Nine families of enlisted Air Force members will get a big present for Christmas.
They’ll be the first to move into new homes, now under construction, on High Street in Eagle Heights, the base’s military housing community.
Not only are the homes new and energy efficient, they’re the first of 768 base houses built under a new system called privatization, in which military housing is constructed and managed by the private sector on land leased for 50 years from the Air Force.
The Dover base’s $196 million project started in November 2005, said Russell McSpedden, construction manager for Hunt Ltd., an El Paso, Texas-based corporation specializing in designing and building military housing.
The homes, with 21 floor plan options, take the place of 980 units that were demolished to make way for the new houses, which range from 1,400 to 2,800 square feet.
They are mostly three- and four-bedroom duplexes, built to be energy efficient, functional and attractive with vaulted ceilings downstairs and a tech room that is wired for the 21st century family.
Since Air Force officials determined there was a need for fewer homes, they were able to redesign the streets, widening and shortening them and putting in cul-de-sacs.
Included in the demolition was a recycling initiative for asphalt and brick, reused at the site, and cabinets and appliances, donated to local charities.
Lt. Col. Mark Ruse, commander of the base’s civil engineering squadron, which oversees facilities management, said the project didn’t displace anyone.
Some families moved out while the new homes were built and other were assigned to another house on the base.
The same company designed, using Air Force standards, 212 homes that opened two years ago on the base.
In addition to the homes, Eagle Heights, and another off-base Air Force community, Eagle Meadows, will have all the amenities of a community, including a recreation and community center, a small outdoor pool for children, playground equipment and jogging trails.
The 12,500-square-foot community center will also house offices for Pinnacle, the housing management corporation.
“It will be open during the month of December. It’s a great thing,” said Col. Ruse, who added that an official opening is planned some time in January.
Air Force personnel who elect to live on base will rent from Pinnacle, which also provides residential maintenance service, including landscaping, mowing and snow removal.
Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., visited the Dover base Monday to see the status of federally funded projects, such as the housing community.
Among other things, he found the landscape maintenance attractive.
“I was literally moving tons of leaves yesterday and cleaning my gutters after dark,” he said.
But he also found the new homes appealing on another level.
“The military has a tough time meeting personnel needs,” Sen. Carper said.
“It’s hard to attract and keep good people. This is a good thing for the taxpayers. This is very gratifying for me.”
Base officials believe the project is a win-win situation.
“The contractor has to compete with what the families can find off base,” Col. Ruse said.
“We get paid an allowance and we have a formal contract rental agreement. The homes belong to the contractor, and they will make them very competitive with the local economy because people can choose to spend it here or go off base.
“It’s all for the families, for their quality of life and peace of mind. It’s easier to be deployed knowing your family is living in a nice secure home.”
During the ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom, base personnel have been deployed for four, six or 12 months at a time, depending on their job.
“It takes a heavy toll,” Col. Ruse said.
“The families are significantly impacted. Knowing your family is taken care of takes some of the stress out. We have a different culture, a different lifestyle. Today, e-mail makes it easier, but there is no good age to tell your kids you’ll see them in six months.”
The project is being completed in five phases and should be finished in January 2009.
“We are 50 to 60 percent completed with the first phase,” Mr. McSpedden said.
Work progresses on each phase throughout the entire project.
“I use the analogy of a train,” Mr. McSpedden said. “We keep the train moving throughout.”
That process pleases Col. Ruse.
“Under the old system, it would have taken years and years,” he said.
“Most of the houses were 55 to 60 years old. This project will take 39 months to complete. We’re very excited.”
About Hunt
Hunt Building Corporation was founded in 1947. For over 36 years, Hunt Building has been one of the nation’s leading builders of military family housing for all branches of the U.S. armed services. Today, Hunt Building Corporation and its affiliated companies, Hunt Building Company, Hunt Development Group, Hunt Communities, HBC Property Managers, Hunt ELP, and Hunt NR, provide a full range of development, design, construction, investment, and asset/property management services. The company has been headquartered in El Paso and operated by the Hunt family for four generations.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephanie Sierra
November 2, 2006
Hunt Building Corporation
(915) 533-1122
By Gwen Guerke
Delaware State News
DOVER — Nine families of enlisted Air Force members will get a big present for Christmas.
They’ll be the first to move into new homes, now under construction, on High Street in Eagle Heights, the base’s military housing community.
Not only are the homes new and energy efficient, they’re the first of 768 base houses built under a new system called privatization, in which military housing is constructed and managed by the private sector on land leased for 50 years from the Air Force.
The Dover base’s $196 million project started in November 2005, said Russell McSpedden, construction manager for Hunt Ltd., an El Paso, Texas-based corporation specializing in designing and building military housing.
The homes, with 21 floor plan options, take the place of 980 units that were demolished to make way for the new houses, which range from 1,400 to 2,800 square feet.
They are mostly three- and four-bedroom duplexes, built to be energy efficient, functional and attractive with vaulted ceilings downstairs and a tech room that is wired for the 21st century family.
Since Air Force officials determined there was a need for fewer homes, they were able to redesign the streets, widening and shortening them and putting in cul-de-sacs.
Included in the demolition was a recycling initiative for asphalt and brick, reused at the site, and cabinets and appliances, donated to local charities.
Lt. Col. Mark Ruse, commander of the base’s civil engineering squadron, which oversees facilities management, said the project didn’t displace anyone.
Some families moved out while the new homes were built and other were assigned to another house on the base.
The same company designed, using Air Force standards, 212 homes that opened two years ago on the base.
In addition to the homes, Eagle Heights, and another off-base Air Force community, Eagle Meadows, will have all the amenities of a community, including a recreation and community center, a small outdoor pool for children, playground equipment and jogging trails.
The 12,500-square-foot community center will also house offices for Pinnacle, the housing management corporation.
“It will be open during the month of December. It’s a great thing,” said Col. Ruse, who added that an official opening is planned some time in January.
Air Force personnel who elect to live on base will rent from Pinnacle, which also provides residential maintenance service, including landscaping, mowing and snow removal.
Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., visited the Dover base Monday to see the status of federally funded projects, such as the housing community.
Among other things, he found the landscape maintenance attractive.
“I was literally moving tons of leaves yesterday and cleaning my gutters after dark,” he said.
But he also found the new homes appealing on another level.
“The military has a tough time meeting personnel needs,” Sen. Carper said.
“It’s hard to attract and keep good people. This is a good thing for the taxpayers. This is very gratifying for me.”
Base officials believe the project is a win-win situation.
“The contractor has to compete with what the families can find off base,” Col. Ruse said.
“We get paid an allowance and we have a formal contract rental agreement. The homes belong to the contractor, and they will make them very competitive with the local economy because people can choose to spend it here or go off base.
“It’s all for the families, for their quality of life and peace of mind. It’s easier to be deployed knowing your family is living in a nice secure home.”
During the ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom, base personnel have been deployed for four, six or 12 months at a time, depending on their job.
“It takes a heavy toll,” Col. Ruse said.
“The families are significantly impacted. Knowing your family is taken care of takes some of the stress out. We have a different culture, a different lifestyle. Today, e-mail makes it easier, but there is no good age to tell your kids you’ll see them in six months.”
The project is being completed in five phases and should be finished in January 2009.
“We are 50 to 60 percent completed with the first phase,” Mr. McSpedden said.
Work progresses on each phase throughout the entire project.
“I use the analogy of a train,” Mr. McSpedden said. “We keep the train moving throughout.”
That process pleases Col. Ruse.
“Under the old system, it would have taken years and years,” he said.
“Most of the houses were 55 to 60 years old. This project will take 39 months to complete. We’re very excited.”
About Hunt
Hunt Building Corporation was founded in 1947. For over 36 years, Hunt Building has been one of the nation’s leading builders of military family housing for all branches of the U.S. armed services. Today, Hunt Building Corporation and its affiliated companies, Hunt Building Company, Hunt Development Group, Hunt Communities, HBC Property Managers, Hunt ELP, and Hunt NR, provide a full range of development, design, construction, investment, and asset/property management services. The company has been headquartered in El Paso and operated by the Hunt family for four generations.