RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Although many base residents and members were expecting groundbreaking for Randolph's new $30 million base exchange to happen in May, it has been postponed until summer.
The event is waiting for completion of the final design, according to a 12th Civil Engineer Division official.
"Until the final design is completed, no ground breaking can be scheduled," said Dwight Micklethwait, chief of design and contracts. "The designers' estimate is the June-July time frame; the actual date is to be determined."
The new 169,000-square-foot BX will be built north of the current facility, which will be demolished to make way for additional parking for the new shopping center. It will replace a structure that suffers from a "stressed" sales floor, Mr. Micklethwait said.
"The annual sales per square foot at the Randolph BX is $611 and the average-sales-per-square-foot requirement for this size store is $450 per square foot," he said.
Mr. Micklethwait said the new BX will also:
· Keep up with demographic growth in the community due to Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission action and the presence of more retirees.
· Provide a safer and more convenient flow of traffic.
· Provide one-stop shopping for Army and Air Force Exchange Service patrons.
· Eliminate the unsightly and congested areas around the current BX and BXtra.
He said another advantage of the new BX is that it will be situated away from the delivery route to the base gas station. Deliveries are transported through the parking lot in front of the existing BX.
The facility will feature a retail store, a service mall, military clothing sales, a satellite pharmacy, concessions and a food court. Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell are among the expected tenants.
Mr. Micklethwait said the base exchange will be accessible from Harmon Drive and 3rd Street West and minimal utility changes are anticipated. In addition, a pedestrian walkway will tie the BX to the commissary.
He also said construction will take about 18 months.
Mr. Micklethwait said the commissary, which recently underwent a $10 million renovation, is not part of the project.