Balfour Beatty addresses housing privatization

  • Published
  • By Airman Ashley J. Cass
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Representatives from Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC provided Airmen and their families with information about base housing privatization and upcoming changes during two town hall meetings May 22 at the base theater.

Cindy Murillo, a BBC area property manager, and Doryne Dalrymple, a BBC project manager, addressed frequently asked questions and outlined plans for building 214 new housing units in Rushmore Heights and the future Black Hills Estates over the next 36 months, as well as several new community facilities.

Murillo and Dalrymple also took time to answer questions from Airmen and their families about BBC's pet policy, utility charges, school bus services and a variety of issues related to privatized housing.

Col. Mark Weatherington, 28th Bomb Wing commander, also spoke with Airmen about upcoming changes, and reassured those attending that this and other quality of life issues are very important to every leader on the installation.

"We're going to try to make this as smooth as we possibly can," said Weatherington. "This means better quality housing for our folks, at a better rate, and we have professional management. I think it's a great deal."

BBC manages and maintains more than 30,000 housing units on more than 40 Army, Navy and Air Force bases through housing privatization.

Current and prospective residents in Rushmore Heights and Prairie View Estates will be able to sign leases during sessions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 29, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 30 and 31, in the Dakotas club.

The lease signings at the Dakotas will allow prospective residents and their families to review and sign addendums and leases. Residents who currently live in the affected areas will be required to either sign a lease or move out before the projected privatization date of Aug. 1, 2012.

For more information and to review the lease, Airmen and their families can visit the BBC website at www.ellsworthfamilyhousing.com.