Fort Bliss Monitor

Housing plans reviewed
Bliss residents get first look at future homes

Dianne Borges
GMH Military Housing Plans

Fort Bliss residents got their first look at the future of on-post housing June 29 during the initial resident focus group meeting. Residents were able to review the initial housing plans developed by the Fort Bliss privatization housing teammate, GMH Military Housing and its partners Benham Companies (architect and engineer) and Centex Construction Group. While the team is in the early planning stages, the initial plan includes GMH assuming ownership and management of the 2,752 existing homes at Fort Bliss, demolishing and replacing approximately 1,739 existing homes with new homes and extensively renovating at least 807 of the existing homes.

In addition, a new Community Center and four neighborhood centers with specially planned amenities will be built. Each center features a spacious facility with large rooms for social gatherings such as receptions, parties, conferences and neighborhood meetings. Five sport courts, 55 playgrounds/Tot Lots and a fitness/walking trail system will also be built.

At the meeting Benham architects walked residents through the way the overall Fort Bliss family housing concept was derived, into specific communities and ending with actual house plans. Residents were able to view photos and plans, ask questions and voice concerns. The discussions included community layouts, Tot Lot locations, fencing, privacy issues, heating and cooling issues, room sizes and the direction compared with the sun.

This was the feedback that GMH and Benham were looking for. Even though they had the initial housing plan resulting from requirements by the Army and Fort Bliss, as well as a study of the overall El Paso area, GMH and Benham were intent on speaking directly with the residents currently living in housing at Fort Bliss. The valuable information collected from junior NCOs, senior NCOs and company grade and senior officer residents will allow the architects to go back to the drawing board and refine community and housing layouts to better suit the residents of Fort Bliss. Residents who attended said they were excited and encouraged by what they saw and heard.

Once the refined plans are completed, GMH and Benham will again hold focus group meetings to review with residents. These meetings are anticipated for August. Advanced notice will be given as to the exact date and all residents will be welcomed to attend.

In the meantime, residents are encouraged to learn more about the Fort Bliss family housing plan by attending the RCI Open House and Design Review Meeting, July 20 at 6 p.m. in the Community Center, Bldg. 2494.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	July 8, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Housing plans reviewed Bliss residents get first look at future homes Dianne Borges GMH Military Housing Plans Fort Bliss residents got their first look at the future of on-post housing June 29 during the initial resident focus group meeting. Residents were able to review the initial housing plans developed by the Fort Bliss privatization housing teammate, GMH Military Housing and its partners Benham Companies (architect and engineer) and Centex Construction Group. While the team is in the early planning stages, the initial plan includes GMH assuming ownership and management of the 2,752 existing homes at Fort Bliss, demolishing and replacing approximately 1,739 existing homes with new homes and extensively renovating at least 807 of the existing homes. In addition, a new Community Center and four neighborhood centers with specially planned amenities will be built. Each center features a spacious facility with large rooms for social gatherings such as receptions, parties, conferences and neighborhood meetings. Five sport courts, 55 playgrounds/Tot Lots and a fitness/walking trail system will also be built. At the meeting Benham architects walked residents through the way the overall Fort Bliss family housing concept was derived, into specific communities and ending with actual house plans. Residents were able to view photos and plans, ask questions and voice concerns. The discussions included community layouts, Tot Lot locations, fencing, privacy issues, heating and cooling issues, room sizes and the direction compared with the sun. This was the feedback that GMH and Benham were looking for. Even though they had the initial housing plan resulting from requirements by the Army and Fort Bliss, as well as a study of the overall El Paso area, GMH and Benham were intent on speaking directly with the residents currently living in housing at Fort Bliss. The valuable information collected from junior NCOs, senior NCOs and company grade and senior officer residents will allow the architects to go back to the drawing board and refine community and housing layouts to better suit the residents of Fort Bliss. Residents who attended said they were excited and encouraged by what they saw and heard. Once the refined plans are completed, GMH and Benham will again hold focus group meetings to review with residents. These meetings are anticipated for August. Advanced notice will be given as to the exact date and all residents will be welcomed to attend. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to learn more about the Fort Bliss family housing plan by attending the RCI Open House and Design Review Meeting, July 20 at 6 p.m. in the Community Center, Bldg. 2494.