Nellis launches plan to improve housing

Friday, Dec. 21, 2001 | 9:15 a.m.

Nellis Air Force Base has put into motion a plan to privatize 1,200 family housing units on the base.

The announcement was made this morning at the base's old Nellis Terrace units, which will be demolished to make way for new housing units that base officials say will be well maintained, safe and affordable under privatization.

The base plans to increase its family units from 1,278 to 1,433. That plan includes 116 units within a 30-minute drive of the Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Air Field, home to two Predator reconnaissance squadrons and the Ground Combat Training Squadron.

Under privatization, the Air Force will lease about 360 acres and convey existing units to a developer. In exchange, the developer will have seven years to demolish 915 units, renovate 350 units and build 1,074 units.

Military families then could choose to spend their basic allowance for housing as full payment to live in the privatized housing or seek housing elsewhere in the Las Vegas Valley, Nellis officials said.

"Providing quality housing is critical to retention" of service members, Col. Del Eulberg, 99th Air Base Wing commander, said.

"With historical congressional funding for military family housing, it will be more than 50 years before we can modernize all of the housing on Nellis. This innovative approach will allow us to join forces with the private sector to provide military families with modern housing in seven years or less."

The goal of Nellis Air Force Base is to have all of its housing replaced or renovated to current market standards by January 2010.