Privatized housing on horizon for Edwards

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Moving toward the privatization of military family housing, Edwards recently showcased the base's housing area for several home developers.  

The effort is part of an Air Force initiative to privatize all military housing in the continental United States. 

"There are only 20 bases  Air Force wide that have not gone though the privatization process and Edwards is one of them," said Jeanette White, 95th Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Transportation Directorate housing coordinator. "Privatization is happening all over the Air Force currently to save money." 

Col. Nancy Wharton, 95th Air Base Wing commander, briefed the developers about the Edwards mission and the community development plan. The developers also received an opportunity to visit several homes in the housing area. 

"We have a great community here that we have built over the years," Colonel Wharton said. "We want to continue making this feel like a home for our military and their dependents." 

Once the developer has been selected for Edwards, the government plans to lease the land and homes to the developers so they can maintain. The base intends to sign a 50-year lease with the selected developer, Ms. White said.

Several plans for the privatization include a community center where the developer and housing office will be centrally located. Edwards also plans to include amenities such as community parks and recreation centers, Colonel Wharton said.

Currently, Edwards is still in the development stage for this project, which includes a request for proposal from the private developers. A panel will choose a developer who they think will be in the best interest of Edwards and the Air Force, Ms. White said.

"The Air Force does not have the funding to keep our houses kept like people would like them to be," Ms. White said. "We are one of the last bases to be fortunate enough to have new houses. Having the developer maintain the homes will allow several amenities to be built on base."