LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Balfour Beatty Communities, which took over operation of the Lackland base housing facilities nearly two years ago, announced last week new options for residents of the base's oldest housing neighborhood.
At a town hall meeting Nov. 3, Capehart residents were presented choices for other housing as it becomes available if tenants are interested in moving. The Capehart homes were built in the 1960s.
"Capehart residents are going to have the option (to move)," said Claudia Moreno, Balfour Beatty Communities LifeWorks/resident specialist. "We want things to be right for (the residents), and we want them to be happy."
Ms. Moreno said BBC, contracted by the Air Force in December 2008 to privatize base housing on Lackland, recognizes the age and maintenance issues residents face in the Capehart homes. She said some maintenance issues cannot be addressed while homes are still occupied.
Options for Capehart residents, should they choose to move, include Frank Tejeda Estates West on the Lackland Annex for junior NCOs, and new housing on main Lackland for senior NCOs, field grade officers and company grade officers. New homes for field grade officers are expected to be completed in January and company grade houses in March. When construction is completed next summer, more than 850 new homes will have been added to the Lackland housing inventory.
Capehart residents who consider moving to Tejeda Estates West, which opened about 10 years ago, or new housing will be responsible for moving expenses, according to Ms. Moreno. She said there would be no transfer fee, and expects BBC to waive a moving notice.
"If we have a home available for them, we will probably waive the 30-day notice requirement," she said. "We do have some residents who want to remain in Capehart and they are happy living there."
In addition to options for the current tenants in Capehart, BBC plans to repair houses that become vacant and make them available to military retirees and Department of Defense employees.
Those rents have yet to be determined but Ms. Moreno said non-military tenants would receive the same services and benefits as current residents. Applications for base housing are available online at the BBC website.
For more information about base housing, contact the BBC office on the Lackland Annex at 674-9366, visit the BBC website
http://www.lacklandafbfamilyhousing.com or call the Lackland Housing Office at 671-1840.