Housing privatization town hall meetings coming

  • Published
  • By Airman Hrair H. Palyan
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Officials from Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC will host a series of town hall meetings in April to discuss the housing privatization contract at Ellsworth. Firm dates will be announced as they become available.

Balfour Beatty has been selected by the Department of the Air Force as the highest ranked offeror for the privatization of family housing under the Northern Group Housing Privatization Project. The project includes six Air Force installations, including Ellsworth, Minot Air Force Base, Grand Forks AFB and Cavalier Air Force Station in North Dakota, Cannon AFB, N.M. and Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

Privatized housing is a government-business agreement with major housing and development corporations to provide additional quality homes for military families. Projects typically involve renovation or replacement of outdated military family housing units.

"There will be 214 new units constructed between Black Hills Estates and Rushmore Heights," said Rene Espinosa, base housing privatization project manager. "The existing units in Prairie View and Rushmore Heights were constructed between 2004 and 2008 and don't need to be replaced. What this ultimately means for Ellsworth is that we'll end up with some of the best housing possible."

The project will include enhancements such as walking and jogging trails, picnic areas, and basketball, volleyball and tennis facilities. The units will provide the open room concept for greater flexibility in arranging furniture, and all units will have a two-car garage with electric door openers. Many of the units will be single-family units and some will be duplexes.

"We are very excited about our partnership with Balfour Beatty," said Col. Trent Edwards, 28th Mission Support Group commander. "Our Airmen and families will be equally excited about the quality homes and sense of community that Balfour Beatty will provide."

Privatized housing is one of the various choices Airmen have for family housing at Ellsworth, according to Espinosa.

For more information on housing privatization, visit ellsworth.af.mil or click on the following:

Housing Privatization Fact Sheet