MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- After more than six years of planning, the privatization of military housing in the Tri-Command area kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony at the old Leatherneck Square Monday.
The privatization agreement between Actus Lend Lease and the Department of the Navy was signed Feb. 20, forming the Actus-DON partnership-Tri-Command Military Housing LLC. Actus will oversee all aspects of the 50-year project, including development, design, construction, financing, and property management of more than 1,718 homes.
The first phase of the Public-Private Venture housing project will begin this month with the construction of a new housing complex to replace the Wake Village housing area.
The 140-home complex, which is scheduled to be complete within a year, will feature a variety of unit designs, a community swimming pool, walking paths and better service levels for all residents, said Peter Koziol, CEO, Actus Lend Lease.
"This complex is not just a group of houses," said Koziol. "We have a strong passion for what we do, and these homes are symbolic of the missions, ideas and needs of the Marines and sailors who will be living in them."
The housing units in the current Wake Village were built about the same time as the majority of the installations infrastructure. The average age of the homes is 55 to 60 years, and some structures date back even further. The new units will be comparable to what service members can get out in town.
"This is a great opportunity for Marines and sailors," said Brig. Gen. Joseph J. McMen-amin, commanding general, MCRD Parris Island / Eastern Recruiting Region. "It has been a long battle trying figure out the right way to do this, but this is going to bring a higher quality of life to the [service members] of the Depot. This is a win-win situation for everybody involved."
Wake Village is just the beginning of the project that calls for an additional 120 houses for the Depot, out of a total of 500 units for the Tri-Command.
Additionally, all inadequate housing units throughout the Marine Corps are scheduled to be replaced by 2007.
According to Lt. Gen. Richard Kelly, Deputy Com-mandant, Installation and Logistics, Actus will replace and maintain nearly 1,700 homes for Marines and sailors over the next 50 years.
"We have made a long-term commitment to providing our Marines and sailors with quality homes," said Lt. Gen. Kelly. "The beneficiaries of PPV are the [service members] serving our country. These homes will have a significant impact on readiness, quality of life and morale."
"After all of these years of planning, we have figured it out," he added. "This is not what we think [service members] want, but what they say they want. They will now be living to the standards in which they should."
"I'm glad they are finally doing something with housing," said Vanessa St. Onge, who lives in the current Wake Village. "It will be nice to have a newer home with more room and storage. It will really be a home away from home."
Although construction has not yet begun, some housing residents are witnessing the changes already. In February, Actus took over the maintenance of all Tri-Command housing and began providing 24-hour maintenance service, as well as lawn care.
"I've seen a tremendous improvement in maintenance," said Staff Sgt. Jason Thornton, pay section SNCOIC and Laurel Bay resident. "It's great that they provide lawn service too, because it's one less thing that I have to worry about. I also don't have to worry about my wife trying to fix things around the house when I'm not around."
The service is all a part of the commitment made to the service members by Actus, said Koziol. "It's our job to provide exemplary housing, and we will oversee the project for 50 years to make sure that's exactly what the service members are getting."