HONOLULU - The largest, privatized housing contract ever awarded by the Department of Defense and the Department of the Army - one that has earned recognition as one of the largest solar-powered communities in the world - has achieved another notable milestone.
Island Palm Communities, the partnership between Lend Lease and DA, reached 7,003 occupied homes, Nov. 19, which means more than 7,000 service members and their families are now realizing the many benefits privatized military housing can offer.
The milestone is a first for Island Palm Communities and a first for any Army residential community.
"Our ability to reach this milestone demonstrates that the public-private partnership business model between the (DoD) and private developers, like Lend Lease, does work," said Mark Frey, deputy project director for Island Palm Communities. "We are seeing more military families moving and staying on post, despite a very competitive rental market surrounding our installations.
"This sends a clear message that we are providing the services, amenities and homes desired by our service members," Frey said.
The revitalization of community housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, a critical component in the effort to eliminate inadequate housing and foster a better quality of life for U.S. service members and their families.
The program was passed by Congress in 1996, and now, with more than 90 privatized projects under its belt, DoD and its Soldiers are realizing the benefits. Successful achievements of partnerships like Island Palm Communities are proof that privatization is working.
MHPI leverages private capital through partnerships with private developers to construct, renovate, operate and maintain housing.
"We anticipated the possibility of reaching this occupancy number over the past few weeks and have worked tremendously hard to attain it," said Tom Adams, director of Property Management of Island Palm Communities. "Credit goes to everyone on the team. From our leasing consultants, who help residents as much as a year prior to their arrival in Hawaii, to our community staff that provides great services and activities making Island Palm Communities a welcoming environment, and to our service teams that maintain and prepare homes for families."
Adams also credited development, design, construction and renovation teams for creating beautiful communities.
In the future, Island Palm Communities will develop, design and construct more than 5,000 new homes and renovate more than 2,500 existing homes, as well as build several new community centers, playgrounds and community amenities.
Additionally, Island Palm Communities will provide asset, property and maintenance management here through 2054.
(Editor's Note: The Island Palm Communities housing office provided content for this article.)
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