WIESBADEN, Germany -- The start of the new year brings several changes -- and progress -- to facilities and services as U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden moves a few steps closer to a more consolidated community with enhanced quality of life.
Updates include improvements to the Taunus Theater, the new access control point opening at Clay Kaserne, bus stop changes and the new Hainerberg Post Exchange opening, which will move some activities from the Mainz-Kastel Storage Station.
"We're excited about the changes coming to the community," said Col. Mary Martin, USAG Wiesbaden commander. "These much anticipated quality-of-life additions should make our community a better place to live work and play."
Taunus Movie Theater
Renovation of the Taunus Movie Theater began Jan. 12, with the last movie showing at Taunus Jan. 11. Improvements include installing air conditioning and replacing lighting and seats and are scheduled to be complete by mid-May.
Movies will be shown at the Tony Bass Theater (Building 1043) on Clay Kaserne starting Friday evening, Jan. 16. 3D movies will not be shown, and it will be a cash/U.S. dollars-only venue. There will be a snack stand available. Starting Jan. 22, the theater will show movies Thursday through Sunday. The movie schedule is available at https://www.shopmyexchange.com/reel-time-theatres/Hainerberg-(Wiesbaden)-1368178.
Clay Kaserne Access Control Point
The access control point for Clay Kaserne will officially open Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. Transfer of control from the existing gates to the new ACP will be phased. Starting Jan. 19, access to Clay will be either via the "bypass" road to the South gate or via the new ACP with ID checks at the two existing gates (Truck Gate and Main Gate). During this period the final closure of the perimeter fence will be accomplished. After 10 a.m. on Jan. 28, the ID check will shift to the new ACP for all traffic entering Clay.
"Completion of the Clay access control point marks the end of seven years of intense construction to support the consolidation of U.S. Army Europe headquarters and mission command elements in Wiesbaden and is critical to providing safe and secure access to the installation," said Roger Gerber, director of the Transformation and Stationing Management Office, which oversaw the project. "There is, however, still a lot of construction ongoing and planned to improve community support activities for our Soldiers, civilians and families and to support future unit moves resulting from Department of Defense directed European Infrastructure Consolidation."
Hainerberg PX
Finally, on April 16, the Hainerberg PX (including the food court), Pizza Hut, Mainz-Kastel Power Zone, Furniture Store and Four Seasons will close, and on April 17, the new PX Mall including the new food court (Pizza Hut, Burger King, Popeye's, Charleys and Taco Bell), Starbucks and Optometrist/Optical Shop will open. After April, the only remaining activities on Mainz-Kastel installation will be the Shopette, Car Care Center, Car Wash and some food vendors. The Thrift Store will remain on Mainz-Kastel for the time being.
Community response on Facebook was mixed, ranging from excitement to disappointment -- from "This is great news!" to "Sad that there's no healthy food options." Several community members asked why Subway will not be included at the new Exchange food court.
Dan Barriga, general manager of the Wiesbaden Exchange, said decisions are based on past sales trends, and their business decisions reflect that. All options offer healthy variations on their standard offerings such as grilled chicken versus fried, wraps as opposed to bread, etc.
"We will certainly monitor performance of all these operations and revise as needed," he said.
Community Bank with Andrews Federal Credit Union collocated will also open new offices in the PX Mall when it opens.
Also on Hainerberg, trenching work on sections of Mississippistrasse continues until mid-February. It remains open, but will be reduced to one lane with priority signs indicating right of way. Some resident parking is affected.
In order to secure Hainerberg by the opening of the new PX on April 17, the garrison is constructing a temporary ACP on Washingtonstrasse near the old PX entrance with anticipated completion in mid-April. The old PX ACP will continue to operate. Additionally, there will be pedestrian/bike gates located near the gas station (where the existing exit turnstile is now) and near the high school.
In conjunction with the city of Wiesbaden and Hesse traffic planners, the garrison is also upgrading the intersection at Washington and B455, to include turning lanes and a traffic light.
Schools
School buses will continue to use the Texasstrasse access near the high school. Construction of the new high school classroom facility will begin in April with a two-year construction. The elementary and middle schools are also under design. Demolition of the old family housing units across from the elementary school will be done in 2015 to make room for the new middle school.
For more information and updates about transformation, visit http://www.wiesbaden.army.mil/sites/directorates/transformation.asp.
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