Hanscom housing privatization update

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Officials from Headquarters, United States Air Force and the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, AFCEE, the portfolio manager that oversees all Air Force privatized housing projects, met in Washington this week with lenders to discuss the potential sale of Hanscom's privatized housing project, as well as the three other Air Force projects that are owned and managed by American Eagle Communities.

American Eagle has been actively pursuing a sale of its ownership interest in the Hanscom project as well as its projects at Little Rock Air Force Base in Ark., Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. Work on all of these projects has stopped, in most cases for several months, due to substantial cost overruns.

"The sale process is based on a consensual agreement between AEC, the lenders and the Air Force," said Mike Hawkins of AFCEE.

"A consensual sale appears to be the most expeditious path to resumed construction." Mr. Hawkins said. "If the sale process is unsuccessful, the lenders and the Air Force have various legal options which they are fully prepared to exercise."

A new project owner may complete the project based on a revised project scope that reflects the October 2007 Housing Requirements Market Analysis results that determine the demand for on-base housing. For Hanscom, the recently released HRMA data shows a minimum housing requirement of 459 homes, a reduction from the previous requirement of 784. "Using that number (459) as a baseline, the objective will be to provide high-quality, marketable housing," said Colonel Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander.

The Air Force and lenders anticipate that maintenance operations will continue uninterrupted and residents should not be concerned. Residents will continue to pay rent through the current rental process to American Eagle.

"A lot of work is being done to get Hanscom's privatized housing project back on track. For now we want to ensure that our housing residents' needs are met and that they have the safe, quality housing that they deserve," Colonel Schluckebier said.

This is evident in the Air Force's recent unprecedented efforts to pave the road in the Old Musket Meadows neighborhood. The road had been graded and scarified in June, before construction on Hanscom's privatized housing came to a halt. It now creates a hazard to residents, especially with winter coming. While the road is included as part of the privatized area and under American Eagle's control, the developer is unable to pave it before the winter, when the asphalt plants shut down, and safety would be compromised.

"Thanks to a coordinated effort between AFCEE, Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters, and our local Civil Engineer team, we found a way to get the road paved without having to rely on the developer and as a result we'll have about 130 very happy families who live in Musket Meadows and have been waiting for this to happen since June," Colonel Schluckebier added. He also stated that residents will be kept informed of the progress related to Hanscom's housing privatization project. "Rest assured, we are working this very hard and we are thankful for the patience and understanding of our Hanscom housing residents."