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Base Housing

Snow lies undisturbed on the sidewalk of an unoccupied unit in the Capehart Housing area on Bannock Rd on F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. This unit, and the others in the area which were built in the 1960’s, is slated to be torn down and replaced with new housing units. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Base Housing

The family of Staff Sgt. Bill Chisum, 90th Medical Support Squadron, pose in the kitchen and dining area of their quarters on Wyodak Loop, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. Chisum’s daughters are Trinity, age 9; Tessa, age 4 and Destiny, age 9. His wife, Jami, is on the right. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Air Force announces Privatized Housing selection for Western Group Bases

Published Feb. 22, 2011
By Staff Reports

F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYO -- The Air Force has identified Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC to privatize military family housing for Western Group bases at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.; F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo. The deal, valued at over $330 million in development cost, provides new and renovated housing for 3,264 military families.

The Air Force selected BBC after a competitive solicitation process led by the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment. BBC currently manages housing units on 9 Air Force installations, including Altus AFB, Okla.; Fairchild AFB, Wash.; Lackland AFB, Texas; Luke AFB, Ariz.; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Tinker AFB, Okla.; Travis AFB, Calif.; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; and Vandenberg AFB, Calif..

Under the deal, the U.S. Air Force will lease approximately 1,330 acres of land as part of a 50-year transaction and convey 4,047 existing housing units and other improvements to BBC. The project will provide approximately 700 new and 2,000 renovated homes to be completed in 5 years.

"We're excited to partner with BBC and look forward to continuous quality of life enhancements for our Airmen and their families," said Col. Greg Tims, 90th Missile Wing commander.

At closing, the houses become property of BBC who will own and operate the rental housing development for military families, as well as finance, plan, design, and construct improvements in the development that maintain at least 3,264 housing units for the 50-year lease period.

In 1996, Congress created the Military Housing Privatization Initiative as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The goal was to provide military members with quality homes faster than through MILCON alone.

According to Ian Smith, AFCEE 's Deputy Division Chief at for Housing Privatization, the Air Force has accomplished in 10 years through Housing Privatization what would have taken 25 years using traditional MILCON, and saved the taxpayer billions in the process. "The Air Force has privatized some 38,000 homes at 44 bases at a cost to the Air Force of $423 million," said Mr. Smith, "and brought in $6.4 billion in private funding to provide quality homes for our Airmen."

In 2010, the Air Force and private sector Project Owners delivered an average of 530 new and renovated homes per month, as well as community features like community centers, pools, sports courts, playgrounds, and dog parks. These amenities help to provide the thriving housing communities military members and their families have come to appreciate.

For more information please go to http://www.warren.af.mil.