Residents sign leases with GMH

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Excitement. Skepticism. Optimism. Concern. Moving forward.

All of those are the intertwined emotions and thoughts of base housing residents and GMH Military Housing representatives as lease signings began Tuesday morning at the community center, signaling the transition of ownership of housing units here.

The much-anticipated housing privatization initiative will provide 500 newly renovated homes over the next seven years, and 379 new structures in five years.

Stacie LaFontaine, the regional community manager for GMH, said this week is the first week for the company and Air Force bases to begin a partnership. Sheppard, Altus Air Force Base, Okla., and Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., housing residents signed leases this week, and Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., housing residents will sign next week.

Sheppard has the largest number of housing units - 1,163 - in Air Education and Training Command, Ms. LaFontaine said. When all demolition and construction is complete, Sheppard will have 910 military housing units.

The lease signings is a precursor to the actual changeover that will occur at the beginning of February.

"The lease has a clause for the start date to begin Feb. 1," Ms. LaFontaine said, "or the effective date of the AETC Military Housing Privatization transaction."

The start date has been pushed back on several occasions, but, Ms. LaFontaine said once the lease is signed, housing residents won't have to re-sign a lease if the start date is delayed again.

That hasn't stopped the enthusiasm of current housing residents, she said. Especially those who will move into improved housing units.

"They only thing we've been (hearing from residents) is it can't happen soon enough," Ms. LaFontaine said. "They're excited about the upcoming changes."

Senior Airman Jamar Selvy, a personnelist at the 80th Flying Training Wing, said he looks forward to moving out of Wherry Housing and into Capehart when that section become quarters for junior enlisted members. His emotions are also mixed.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "At the same time, I'm nervous about the change."

Although there are some areas of the transition that concerns him, he said he believes this is a positive step the Air Force is taking to provide better living arrangements for all Airmen.

"If you compare housing needs of today's family to what it was when these were built," he said, pointing at a map of Wherry Housing, "it's a big difference. The housing needs have changed."

Base housing residents who have questions or concerns about the privatization process can call (940) 264-4404, visit the GMH Web site by clicking on the "Housing Privatization" link on Sheppard's public Web site or stop by the GMH office located at 1B Nehls Blvd. in Wherry Housing.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Office hours are extended until 7 p.m. every Wednesday.