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Housing construction underway for servicemembers, families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  Quality of life measures continue to improve as new housing units are built for servicemembers and their families at McGuire and Fort Dix. 

United Communities, the private developer and property manager that took over McGuire and Fort Dix housing in September 2006, has several plans for the future of base housing. 

According to UC management, in no more than six years, they plan to demolish 1,915 houses, renovate 449 houses and construct 1,635 new homes for servicemembers and their families. At that point, base housing will be offered to 2,084 military families. Two community centers are also planned to be built by 2011. 

Several benefits are planned to be included in the new housing. "UC has put its utmost effort into providing communities that are safe, well constructed, and feature all of the accommodations found in state-of-the-art, comparable market-rate communities in the area," said Michael Haydinger, UC vice president. "Resourceful design has produced houses that use less than half the energy of their former counterparts and offer a lifestyle that, before housing privatization, was unheard of in traditional military housing." 

Housing amenities are planned to include high-efficiency heating/cooling equipment, high-efficiency lighting, washer/dryer hookups, garbage disposals, microwave ovens, raised-panel doors, blinds on every window, two-and-a-half baths, garages, storage areas and multi-family units will have fenced rear yards. 

Sense of security and community are some other benefits housing occupants can expect in the new housing. "Living on base behind controlled gates, in a new home, with 24-hour top-notch maintenance ready to serve, creates a sense of security for families, even when a servicemember is deployed," Mr. Haydinger said. 

"Also, the new neighborhoods are designed to blend open space with playgrounds and sporting fields and are interconnected by walking trails," he said. "New community buildings, one with a spray park, both having face-to-face video-conferencing, e-mail areas in computer rooms, a clubhouse room with kitchen facilities and an exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment, are for the use and enjoyment of our residents." 

Thus far, the completed construction includes 28 newly-constructed single-family homes at McGuire (Starlifter), a newly-constructed business center at McGuire and eight renovated housing units in the historic Scott Plaza at Fort Dix. In Falcon Courts East (Parcel E) at McGuire, 132 homes have been demolished, along with 197 homes in Garden Terrace at Fort Dix. 

"Construction to date is going well," said Bill Byerly, construction manager. "We've had 39 days of weather impact to the schedule since we started in July 2007. Despite the weather, we are still on schedule and will complete the first phase of the project on schedule." 

At McGuire, several construction projects are currently in progress, including 74 new multi-family homes in Falcon Courts East, as well as new single-family homes and the demolition of 60 homes in Falcon Courts East (Parcel D). 

At Fort Dix, new construction of 188 multi-family homes in Garden Terrace is underway, with occupancy expected to be completed by May in Parcel F1. In Parcel F3, 142 multi-family homes are in the works, with occupancy set to begin in August; full occupancy is expected by November. 

At Fort Dix's Laurel Hill, five single-family homes and 120 multi-family homes are currently being built, with occupancy beginning in May; full occupancy in Parcel K is expected by August. 

Demolition of 83 homes in Holly Crest/Grove Park Parcel G at Fort Dix begins this month, and new homes are scheduled to be built in September. 

Several more construction projects will continue over the next few years here. "UC takes the responsibility of providing homes for our military families very seriously," Mr. Haydinger said. "Our company philosophy of CARE (Courteous, Available, Responsive and Experienced), reflects our sincerity and our approach to providing first-class housing to the military families residing at McGuire and Fort Dix."