Housing ready for an upgrade Published Jan. 29, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Tinker's residential community will see big changes later this year. Phase one of the housing privatization program is underway, and 132 houses will be built or renovated this year. "Housing privatization is the single biggest program we have to improve the quality of life of our military families," said Gene Gallogly, 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineering director. "We have an outstanding partnership with the developer and we're off to a great start." Housing privatization at Tinker began in July 2008 when the Air Force selected Balfour Beatty Communities, formerly GMH Military Housing, to oversee the construction of new houses and the renovation of older houses. Balfour Beatty will manage the project for 50 years. When construction is finished, 398 new houses will be built and 262 existing houses will have been updated and renovated. Construction is already underway at the Twining Fields and Prairie Land sections. This year, officials said they expect 104 homes to be built. By 2012, all new construction should be finished. In February, officials will start renovations on 28 older houses in the McNarney neighborhood. Barrett Larwin, Balfour Beatty regional vice president, said the program is on course for budget and timing. In fact, the project is actually ahead of schedule. "We are much like [the Tinker residents]," said Mr. Larwin. "We are mission-oriented, and we exist to serve all of their on-base housing requirements, whether it be the development of new neighborhoods, renovation of existing units, or the community management and facilities maintenance of all of our housing inventory. We hire the best in this industry to ensure our operations are as customer-oriented and professional as possible." Mr. Larwin said Tinker residents are also a part of the process and are informed of the next moves at every step along the way. E-mail, quarterly newsletters, town-hall meetings and Life Works activities are some of the ways officials get news to the residents. "We are constantly pushing information to our residents and advertising the project status," Mr. Larwin said. Tinker is part of the Balfour Beatty's AMC WEST project, which also includes Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and Fairchild AFB, Wash. The housing privatization project began in 1996 after the Department of Defense decided that more than 60 percent of its family housing did not meet standards. Rather than take the military construction route, which could take up to 30 years and cost $20 billion, the DOD opted to contract housing services to the private sector. Congress approved the housing privatization program to reduce the overall cost to update DOD housing.