First of new housing will be occupied within three months

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The first of the new construction homes near the main gate are within three months of occupancy, said Ron Hanson, the project manager for Hunt Construction, at the Vance Housing Privatization Partnering meeting held March 12. 

The overall building project is 33 percent complete, he said. Various homes have siding completed, drywall installed, roofing underway and electrical rough work completed. The community center is more than half-way finished and the maintenance facility is 60 percent done. 

Mr. Hanson said one of the project challenges is determining if and where to put tree lines in the new construction area to screen the backyards of some homes from traffic entering and leaving the base and activity at the elementary school. 

This was the first meeting for Kent Davis, the new community director for Pinnacle, the company that manages Vance's family housing. He addressed a tenant concern that is especially important to him. "Residents are asking neighbors, staff and maintenance personnel on site about upcoming renovations and eligibility to move, and they aren't getting the same story," Mr. Davis said. 

"I would like everyone to contact me, or my assistant, Jacey (Waggener), so that we can give them the facts to make sure the information is consistent." 

Mr. Davis and Ms. Waggener can be contacted at the Pinnacle office, The Landings at Vance, 234-0498, and kbdavis@prmc.com and jwaggener@prmc.com. 

Another tenant concern Mr. Davis addressed was the condition of the two playgrounds in the housing area. "New mulch has been installed at both playgrounds. We have trash receptacles, park benches and picnic tables on order." 

Tenant representatives attending the meeting were: Chaplain (Capt.) Zachary Nash, representing officer residents; Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Estes, representing NCO residents; and Capt. Brian McMillan, representing commissioned officer students. 

Names for the three streets in the new construction area are approved. They will be (Lt. Col. John J.) Lieb Way in the senior officers area, (Maj. Henry W.) Dorr Drive in the field grade area and (Maj. Phillip) Redpath Drive in the company grade area. 

Last year, housing residents were asked to complete a survey about privatized housing. According to Mr. Davis, of the 195 surveys distributed, 105 were returned. "Our overall score of 74.6 puts us into the high average. We hope the 2009 survey will put us into good and very good area. That's our goal," he said. 

The survey showed resident concerns were: condition of community, property management and maintenance, community features, home characteristics and features, leasing process, marketing and referrals and the housing management office. 

Mr. Davis said they will set up a meeting for the residents soon. "We want the residents to know their voices have been heard, what their expectations can be and what we are going to do about them." 

The next partnering meeting will be at 11 a.m., April 16, in the Professional Development Center, Bldg. 455.