New KMC housing construction begins

***image1***Development of new Military Family Housing in the KMC has recently begun and can be seen in the early stages at Vogelweh.
Throughout July, fences were erected around construction sites and demolition began. The project, which includes developing more spacious living quarters, is expected to continue throughout the next five years.
These new developments are the first of what will be 855 new townhouses on Ramstein, Vogelweh and Landstuhl.
The new two-story townhouses will be larger than the current apartments, to include a family room, a one-car garage and a fenced-in backyard. The houses will be a combination of duplexes, triplexes and quads and will be primarily three and four bedroom units.
“We are really excited about the new housing,” said Karen Leonard, KMC Housing manager, “The new houses will be very similar to what is offered off base and (in) new MFH in the States. It is a whole new era in housing for the KMC.”
In all, 44 stairwell apartments will be demolished over the next year at Vogelweh to make room for about 350 new townhouses. When the dust settles in 2006, there will be new houses for junior and senior enlisted as well as for officers.
“Our goal is to have the first of the new houses ready by fall of 2005, with all the housing completed at Vogelweh in 2006,” said Erin Oneisom, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe Housing construction program manager.
The construction at Vogelweh represents the culmination of 18 months of planning by the 435th Civil Engineer Group, the HQ USAFE Housing Program Management Office and Air Staff.
The housing replacement program will impact almost every road in the Vogelweh Housing area. There will be a very large construction site, and construction noise and traffic can be expected.
In addition, roads may be partially closed requiring one-way traffic or changes in traffic direction.
As with any construction area, extra caution will be reqired when driving in the Vogelweh Family Housing area.
In the meantime, there will be continued improvements to the stairwell buildings, including re-designation and renovation of units to increase the size authorized for each family. For example, what is now a three-bedroom unit will become a two-bedroom unit. This will happen after the new three- and four-bedroom townhouses are completed.
About this time next year, the focus shifts to Ramstein and Landstuhl, where 24 buildings will be demolished to build approximately 140 new townhouses. The cycle of demolishing and new building will continue until 2009, when the entire program will be complete.