VICENZA, Italy -- With 7,355 Army-owned housing units and 4,712 Army-leased housing units, Installation Management Command-Europe manages over 70 percent of the Army's traditional housing inventory.
So how does the organization establish an investment road map and a vision for future housing communities? By developing area development plans.
Housing area development plans set a long-range housing vision for the next 10 to 20 years. They are the result of a robust collaborative process conducted for all housing districts across the Army in Europe garrisons.
Housing ADP goals include: safe and secure communities; quality of life; efficient use of space; sustainable buildings and infrastructure; and attractive planned communities with connected transportation networks, streets, sidewalks, and trails.
The planning efforts follow leadership guidance that calls for the use of the most recent Housing Market Analysis. HMAs establish on-post housing requirements by surveying the local community housing supply along with the Army's outlook for on-post living.
ADPs depict a sought-after family housing end-state by looking at mission support, eliminating and improving current housing deficiencies, and considering the condition and location of new and planned facilities. The housing plans integrate with other Soldier and family support services within the area and throughout the garrison, and feed into what is called a Real Property Master Plan for each installation.
Planning for military installations is an on-going process, which considers existing conditions, manpower demands, technological advancements, and mission requirements.
According to Norman Stiegler, Director of Public Works for USAG Italy, "the vision for Army housing communities in Vicenza is broken down into two primary areas. One is Government Owned Quarters (Villaggio) and the other is Government Leased Quarters. For Villaggio, we have an Army Family Housing-Construction program to build a Purpose Built Community. This will include the total recapitalization of Villaggio while leveraging the community and educational facilities to provide an all-encompassing residential and educational community facilities for our Soldiers and their families."
The DoDEA high school will begin construction no later than January 2020, while the first phase of the AFH-C will start in 2020. Stiegler says, "at the end of the construction (anticipated 2027) for the 428 dwelling units on Villaggio, we will have a neighborhood community center, educational complex for K-12, Child Development Center and Youth Center along with a swimming pool and splash park for our Purpose Built Community."
For Government Leased Quarters, Stiegler says, "we are in the process of refreshing our inventory with newer units closer to Caserma Ederle and Caserma Del Din. In the past year, we have terminated over 60 GLQ dwelling units. During the next twelve months, we will be working through U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate to update our GLQ inventory with new leases for our Soldiers and their families. Lastly, we are in the final stages of awarding a Build-to-Lease contract through U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate. This will provide 127 dwelling units specifically built for Soldiers and their families on the economy. We anticipate the construction to start in January 2020."
According to Jonathan Winker, a general engineer with IMCOM-Europe's housing branch, "the challenge is to create plans that conform to current HMA and guidance, but are also flexible enough to exist beyond any changes."
To support the housing ADP effort, planning teams conduct interviews with stakeholders, residents, and subject matter experts, along with analyzing web survey results.
ADPs provide detailed site planning for individual area projects, with IMCOM-Europe guidance calling for townhomes that have at least a one-car garage and the addition of garages and balconies or patios for all apartments.
Judith Teague, Chief of Housing for IMCOM-Europe, said housing area development plans "are crucial in validating our future requirements."
With the ADP process, garrisons in Europe have gained support for over $780 million in recapitalization and construction project funding during the next six years. "These definitely set our long-range facility investments and are a valuable tool in defining and supporting our future housing requirements," said Teague.
So how can residents become involved? According to Stiegler, simply by staying in contact with their area coordinator at Villaggio and area/building coordinators in Government Leased Quarters.
"Residents can also assist by encouraging their neighbors to maintain their yards, properly dispose of their garbage, recycle, and conduct proper pet care," says Stiegler.
With any outstanding issue, please contact the DPW Housing Hotline at DSN 646-5116 or commercial at 0444-71-5116.
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