Defense
The Magazine of Military Housing, Lodging & Lifestyles
communities March/April 2013
www.phma.com
Growing
Communities Cultivating military living spaces that foster engagement, responsibility
Special Section: Building Community in Privatized Housing page 6
Special Section: The Latest in Flooring page 20
NEW! 2013 Military Housing Supplier Showcase page 34
CONTENTS SPECIAL SECTION: Building Community in Privatized Housing
Special Section: Flooring
6 Growing Communities
Through its dynamic community centers, Picerne Military Housing works to develop and maintain unique and desirable communities. By Karen Orwin
10
12
16
20
Connecting Single Soldiers A busy calendar of LifeWorks events at Marne Point Unaccompanied Personnel Housing, Fort Stewart, brings residents together to improve their quality of life. By Andrea Theil
20
Communities That Thrive Forest City Military Communities engages staff and residents to create a sense of place. By Troy Knivila-Ritchie
Building Something Greater
22
Lend Lease communities offer military families a place to bond, communicate, and build lasting relationships. By Dixie Lanier Johnson
18 S cholarship Opportunity for High Schoolers
The Lend Lease Community Foundation plans to award a total of 12 $5,000 scholarships to eligible applicants for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. Adapted from a Press Release
6
24
Flooring Factors As flooring options abound, it’s important to do the necessary research to determine which type fits your needs and budget. By Tim Skufca
A Personal Touch The right flooring goes a long way in creating an upscale aesthetic with long-term value and sustainability. By Ben Saylor
Flooring for Wounded Veterans Mohawk continues its partnership with Operation Finally Home to provide mortgage-free homes for wounded veterans and their families. Adapted from a Press Release
FEATURES 26 F iscal Crisis Brings Threat of Base Closures
The nation’s current fiscal uncertainty ensures that base closings remain a threat in the years ahead; here’s how to prepare in case closures become a reality. By Elizabeth Ferrell, Jim Schweiter, and Patrick Stanton 2 Defense Communities
Defense
The Magazine of Military Housing, Lodging & Lifestyles
March/April 2013 u Volume 24, Number 2 u www.phma.com
communities A Publication of the Professional Housing Management Association
28
Publisher Editor Managing Editor Production Assoc. Art Director Ad Sales Manager
Answering the Call Many military housing professionals have turned to call centers to provide residents with great customer service at all times of the day. By Joe Hendrix
30 2012 Project Award Winners
Publishing Offices Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc. 5285 Shawnee Road, Suite 510 Alexandria, VA 22312-2334 703/914-9200; fax 703/914-6777 defcom@strattonpublishing.com
28
Privatized military housing professionals are honored by the Residential Community Initiative for their efforts in 2012. By Deborah A. Hutton and Donald Brannon
32
The First 50 Minutes of Your Day Starting each day with high pay-off activities helps individuals develop productive habits. By Mark Towers
DEPARTMENTS 4 President’s Message
32
PHMA President Del Eulberg offers hope despite challenges presented by the fiscal crisis.
42 Military Marketplace 44 PHMA Corporate Sustaining Members
52 Advertising Index
Defense
THE MAGAZINE OF MILITARY HOUSING, LODGING & LIFESTYLES
COMMUNITIES MARCH/APRIL 2013
www.phma.com
Growing
COMMUNITIES Cultivating military living spaces that foster engagement, responsibility
34 N EW! 2013 Defense
Communities Military Housing Supplier Showcase
Special Section: Building Community in Privatized Housing page 6
Special Section: The Latest in Flooring page 20
NEW! 2013 Military Housing Supplier Showcase page 42
ABOUT THE COVER Linden Oaks resident Celeste Ripley, her daughter Cambri (3), and son Carter (5) enjoy the weather by taking a walk through the neighborhood on the walking trails.
Debra J. Stratton Birgitt Seymour Lia Dangelico Christine Umbrell Janelle Welch Alison Bashian
Please send your articles for Defense Communities to Birgitt Seymour at phmadefensecommunities@earthlink.net. NEXT EDITORIAL DEADLINEs:
July/August – May 10 September/October – July 2
Advertising Sales Manager Alison Bashian Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc. 800/335-7500; fax 440/232-0398 alisonb@strattonpublishing.com Editorial Office 544 Windspirit Circle, Prescott, AZ 86303 928/771-9826 phmadefensecommunities@ earthlink.net PHMA Office 154 Fort Evans Road, NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 703/771-1888; fax 703/771-0299 phmaoffice@earthlink.net www.phma.com Executive Director Jon R. Moore Defense Communities (ISSN #1088-9000 USPS #004-502) is published bimonthly by Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc., 5285 Shawnee Road, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA 22312-2334, for the Professional Housing Management Association, 154 Fort Evans Road, NE, Leesburg, VA 20176. PHMA members receive this publication at the annual subscription rate of $30. Nonmembers’ annual subscription rate is $100. Send sub scription requests to Defense Communities at PHMA. Periodi cals postage paid at Leesburg, VA, and additional mailing offices. Defense Communities, ©2013, Professional Housing Management Association. All rights reserved. All contents of this publication are protected by copyright; however, they may be reproduced in whole or in part with prior approval of the publisher. Prior to photocopying items for educational classroom, internal, or personal use, or to request rights to republish an article, please request reprint permission from Editor, Defense Communities, phmadefensecommunities@ earthlink.net. Unless otherwise stated, articles and editorials express the views of their authors and not necessarily those of PHMA, the editors, or the publisher. Announcements and adver tisements in this publication for products and services do not imply the endorsement of PHMA or any of its members or staff. Postmaster: Send subscription/address changes to: Defense Communities, 154 Fort Evans Road, NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 or e-mail: phmaoffice@earthlink.net. Defense Communities magazine is designed to keep those who operate and manage the whole spectrum of military housing and facilities maintenance informed on the industry’s latest technology, products, and services. It provides a forum for members to share lessons learned, news and events, and training opportunities and updates.
MARCH | APRIL 2013 3
SPECIAL SECTION: Building Community in Privatized Housing
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Fort Riley’s Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Elementary School
Growing
Communities
Picerne Military Housing brings together military families as more than just neighbors: friends By Karen Orwin
6 Defense Communities
A
wave to a neighbor. Families who walk together to school. Dogs that play together in a park. These are all things an observer may see in a Picerne Military Housing community. Though one street comprised of just a few homes can be considered a community, Picerne, a division of Corvias Group, puts the concept of community at the heart of everything that it does. The end result: residents who consider themselves to be not only neighbors with their fellow military families, but also friends and part of a valued support system. Though the company’s 20,000-plus home portfolio at seven military installations across the country may equal the size of a small town, Picerne does more than just build and manage high-quality homes for its residents through the Army’s Residential Communities Initiative (RCI). It has built real communities where residents can live, play, study, and serve at Forts Meade, Bragg, Polk, Rucker, Riley, Sill, and Aberdeen Proving Ground. From the various interior and exterior gathering spaces to the
company’s master-planned amenities and school construction, Picerne develops and maintains communities that are unique and desirable. Each Picerne neighborhood, regardless of its location in the country, has one thing in common: a strong sense of integration. Residents can walk down the street and know that they have neighbors they can depend on, whether it is to join them for a jog on the walking trails or to provide a shoulder to cry on after a deployment ceremony. “I love being here. I don’t want to think about ever having to leave,” said Fort Bragg resident LaQuinta Osborne.
Gathering spaces A total of 35 full-scale community centers with first-class amenities are available to Picerne residents. Every community center has been strategically placed so that it is within walking distance of all of the homes in the neighborhood. It is what many would consider to be the heart of the community, with regard to its location as well as its function. The community center’s location encourages walking throughout the neighborhood, and as a result, residents find themselves shaking hands, greeting other families, and making friends more frequently. Each center’s interior has been built with military families’ needs in mind, including various gathering spaces where residents can interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. From children’s parties to tailgating, each center offers comfortable rooms and furniture with large flat-screen televisions, and a full-sized kitchen for entertaining neighbors and friends. Luxury-style swimming pools not only provide a way to cool off on hot summer days, but the large patios were designed to provide plenty of space for families to take in the summer rays and enjoy the company of their fellow neighbors while lounging by the pool. Fitness rooms allow residents to exercise in a spot that is close to home. A high-tech media room, gym, game room, and children’s play room all encourage families and children to interact on spontaneous play dates that can turn into life-long friendships. Multi-purpose rooms also are available for residents to reserve as they wish at no charge—great for private occasions like birthday parties, baby showers, and club meetings. They also may be used to host helpful educational sessions for military families on topics like parenting, cooking, and budgeting. As a result, these well-attended informational sessions gather together neighbors with common interests and goals. While Picerne’s community centers offer a convenient location and provide attractive, well-designed gathering spaces, the company has also built exterior amenities that encourage cohesiveness and a sense of community. Picerne has built almost 350 playgrounds that are located throughout the neighborhoods for families to enjoy playtime. Even the family dog has his or her own space—Picerne offers five
Bark Parks, where families and pets alike can get to know each other. Each amenity, whether it is the community center or an outdoor gathering space, develops a sense of kinship, understanding, and camaraderie among what is often a transient military family population. A strong sense of community is critical to the happiness and satisfaction of residents, especially during the more difficult times that a military family can face, such as a deployment or other family separation as a result of a military commitment. Providing several locations and events where families interact and spend leisure time together, Picerne offers a more stable and integrated way of life for its residents.
Children gather for community story time with a pirate and a princess in Linden Oaks at Fort Bragg
Each community is capped off with a dedicated management and maintenance team that knows residents by name and understands the mission of putting families first. “The first time we visited the community center, we felt like we were part of the Picerne family. We continue to feel like that every single day,” said Fort Bragg resident Sergeant Travis Andrus. “They make my wife smile, and that makes me smile.” The team’s dedication is not only evident in day-to-day interactions—it is what drives resident events, when Picerne team members provide a free day of fun for residents. These themed events, ranging from Resident Appreciation Day to holiday-themed gatherings, are held throughout the year at all seven military installations. Some events are so popular that thousands of people from the community attend. “Picerne cares so much, so they have a lot of family-oriented activities,” said Osborne. “The holiday events are like Santa’s workshop because there are so many people there.” MARCH | APRIL 2013 7
SPECIAL SECTION: Building Community in Privatized Housing
Master-planned communities Linden Oaks, located 10 miles away from Fort Bragg’s Main Post in North Carolina, is a master-planned community that Picerne developed from the ground up to meet a housing deficit at Fort Bragg. The picturesque community includes 300 acres of preserved wetlands, and the homes are beautifully nestled among pine trees. The curb appeal of Linden Oaks is strengthened by the neighborhood’s gated entrance, tree-lined streets, and the extensive upkeep of the properties. Land that was formerly 1,100 acres of undeveloped ground is now a stand-alone community with more than 1,200 homes, two community centers, three schools, one child development center, one school-age services facility, more than 6,000 linear feet of walking trails, a Bark Park, 19 playgrounds or common areas, and a LEED-Platinum fire and emergency services station that is dedicated to keeping Linden Oaks residents safe. All of these amenities allow families to live away from the hustle and bustle of a military installation, but enjoy the perks and security of living on Fort Bragg.
“Families should not have to trade comfort and amenities for the convenience of living on post. This community provides it all for our military families—comfort, quality, and convenience.”
—Brian Beauregard, Picerne Military Housing
Linden Oaks has proven to be so popular that an additional 210 homes will be constructed by the end of this year, bringing the total number of homes in the neighborhood to more than 1,400. In addition to the construction of the homes, Picerne also completed 14 miles of roadways and 55 miles of water mains throughout the neighborhood. “We worked with several government organizations to make Linden Oaks what it is today,” said Michael Steiner, managing director for Picerne Military Housing. “Our close relationships with the Army, local county officials, and Fort Bragg’s leadership ensured that the community was what our residents needed and wanted, from both a quality of life and housing perspective.” The second master-planned community that Picerne built is the Forsyth neighborhood at Fort Riley, Kansas. Forsyth is comprised of almost 1,400 three- and four-bedroom homes and multiple community amenities, including one elementary school, 14 playgrounds or common areas, a community center, soccer and baseball fields, more than 18,000 linear feet 8 Defense Communities
of walking trails, a community garden, and a Bark Park. One child development center and a fire station also are located just outside of the community. The community’s development, as well as the construction of 10 miles of roadways and 12 miles of water mains, was completed in less than six years. “Families should not have to trade comfort and amenities for the convenience of living on post. This community provides it all for our military families—comfort, quality, and convenience,” said Brian Beauregard, program director for Picerne Military Housing at Fort Riley. The master-planned community designs at Linden Oaks and Forsyth not only allow a more convenient way of life, but they also provide various settings where families who live in one neighborhood can interact with each other on a daily basis. From the time children walk to school in the morning until the family goes to a playground before dinner, residents are constantly interacting with each other as they go about their daily lives in positive social settings, all without leaving their neighborhood. As faces become more familiar and neighbors soon become more friends, a community is formed.
Beyond housing Picerne also can proudly say that it has built the first school using the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) legislation that was enacted in 1996. Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pledged Department of Defense funds to construct the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Elementary School in Fort Riley’s Forsyth neighborhood. However, obtaining those funds and diverting them to school construction proved a greater challenge for the Army. As a result, Picerne partnered with the school district to utilize the RCI authority and MHPI legislation to help build the school. Picerne completed the school under budget in August 2012, six months earlier than originally anticipated. The development of this school not only eases the overcrowding of Fort Riley schools, but it also completes the community of Forsyth. The 87,000-square-foot school is now home to 675 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, all of whom live in Forsyth. No similar projects have been completed to date. “We want our school to be safe and friendly, where our students thrive academically and socially. We envision this to be in all areas, including as they walk to and from school,” said Samrie Devin, principal of Seitz Elementary School. “We are looking forward to involving Picerne in other areas of our school community.” Picerne Military Housing, a division of Corvias Group, was founded in 1998 and is a fully integrated real estate development, construction, and property management firm. For more information about the company or Picerne Military Housing’s communities, go to www.picernemilitaryhousing.com. n Karen Orwin is a communications specialist for Picerne Military Housing. Reach her at korwin@picernemh.com.
Advertising Index Company,
Contact
Phone
Web Site
American Bedding Mfg., Inc.
Don Reynolds
1-800-203-2507
www.americanbeddingmfg.com
35
Balfour Beatty Communities
Kathy Grim
610/355-8206
www.bbcgrp.com
14
Cort Business Services
Peggy Moore
301/324-8606
www.cort1.com
41
Corvias Group
Amanda Filipowski
401/228-2800
www.corvias.com
1
Glasdon, Inc.
JD Villegas
804-726-3777
www.glasdon.com
34
HD Supply Facilities Maintenance
877/610-6912
www.hdsupplysolutions.com
C2
Kenyon International
Suzanne Owens
860/664-4906
www.kenyonappliances.com
23, 35
MilitaryByOwner Advertising
Dave Gran
540/446-4676
www.MilitaryByOwner.com
49
Norix Group, Inc.
Randy Duffer
800/234-4900
www.norix.com
37
PODS Moving & Storage
Cherlyne Rouse
727/538 6418
www.pods.com/phma
36
Salsbury Industries
Ricardo Alva
323/846-6700
www.mailboxes.com
29
Speed Queen
Kate Holmes
920/748-1671
www.speedqueen.com
25
The Mohawk Group
877-275-6642
www.mohawkflooring.com/multifamily 40
The Refinishing Touch
Mario Insenga
770/642-4169
www.therefinishingtouch.com
33
Trinity Furniture
Jorge Lagueruela
336/472-6660
www.trinityfurniture.com
37
University Loft Company
James Jannetides
317/631-5433
www.universityloft.com
C4
Valley Forge Fabrics
Jason Gans
954/971-1776
www.valleyforge.com
38
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Customer Service
800/644-8083
www.wellsfargo.com
C3
Yardi
Spencer Stewart
800/866-1144
www.yardi.com
5, 39
52  Defense Communities
Page