New Contractor Takes Over Little Rock Housing
November 7, 2008
New contractor takes over Little Rock housing
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Nov 7, 2008 13:28:38 EST
JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — A new contractor has taken over construction at a troubled housing project at Little Rock Air Force Base, promising to build or renovate nearly 1,000 homes in a little more than three years, officials said Friday.
HP Communities LLC also will take over housing projects at three other Air Force bases in the country abandoned by American Eagle Communities after private investors cut funding, said Tech. Sgt. Catherine Garcia, a spokeswoman for Little Rock Air Force Base.
The deal between the Air Force and HP Communities closed Nov. 4. By the next day, Garcia said workers had arrived at Little Rock Air Force Base.
“They were here, doors open, running things,” she said.
HP Communities has promised the air base that construction would be completed in 40 months — the longest project the construction group will undertake at the bases, Garcia said. In the next 60 days, the company plans to begin demolition and renovation work, she said. In 120 days, she said the company hopes to have new homes starting to come up at the base in Jacksonville.
“Our project was the one that was furthest behind,” Garcia said.
American Eagle Communities entered a $106 million agreement four years ago with the Air Force to renovate homes for the base as part of the Defense Department’s push to privatize military housing. Under the agreement, American Eagle was to manage the housing, collect rent and handle maintenance and upkeep.
But in May 2007, the company halted its work, leaving empty lots and half-built homes, after private investors stopped funding the project. Other affected projects sat uncompleted at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.; Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.; and Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
HP Communities is owned by Hunt Development Group of El Paso, Texas, and Pinnacle Development of Seattle. Hunt already manages 14 projects at 18 Air Force installations, and Pinnacle manages more than 25,000 privatized homes at 20 different military installations nationwide. The two companies are teamed at 11 Air Force and Army projects.
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Nov 7, 2008 13:28:38 EST
JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — A new contractor has taken over construction at a troubled housing project at Little Rock Air Force Base, promising to build or renovate nearly 1,000 homes in a little more than three years, officials said Friday.
HP Communities LLC also will take over housing projects at three other Air Force bases in the country abandoned by American Eagle Communities after private investors cut funding, said Tech. Sgt. Catherine Garcia, a spokeswoman for Little Rock Air Force Base.
The deal between the Air Force and HP Communities closed Nov. 4. By the next day, Garcia said workers had arrived at Little Rock Air Force Base.
“They were here, doors open, running things,” she said.
HP Communities has promised the air base that construction would be completed in 40 months — the longest project the construction group will undertake at the bases, Garcia said. In the next 60 days, the company plans to begin demolition and renovation work, she said. In 120 days, she said the company hopes to have new homes starting to come up at the base in Jacksonville.
“Our project was the one that was furthest behind,” Garcia said.
American Eagle Communities entered a $106 million agreement four years ago with the Air Force to renovate homes for the base as part of the Defense Department’s push to privatize military housing. Under the agreement, American Eagle was to manage the housing, collect rent and handle maintenance and upkeep.
But in May 2007, the company halted its work, leaving empty lots and half-built homes, after private investors stopped funding the project. Other affected projects sat uncompleted at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.; Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.; and Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
HP Communities is owned by Hunt Development Group of El Paso, Texas, and Pinnacle Development of Seattle. Hunt already manages 14 projects at 18 Air Force installations, and Pinnacle manages more than 25,000 privatized homes at 20 different military installations nationwide. The two companies are teamed at 11 Air Force and Army projects.