The wait for families in line to occupy newly constructed homes in the Tarawa Terrace II and Watkins Village neighborhoods has been extended an additional two to four months.

Some had already been delayed two months.

Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, the private company charged with heading the projects, reported that the delays resulted from having to move current residents to other housing, demolish the existing housing and then rebuild on the site.

The new two-, three- and four-bedroom homes are designated for junior enlisted military families. In particular, it's the Tarawa Terrace II two-bedroom and Watkins Village four-bedroom homes that are causing the most delay.

Officials with the Camp Lejeune Housing Office say they have been closely working with affected families to limit any hardship the delays could prompt.

"We sent out notification letters two weeks ago to those on the wait list telling them of the delay," said Jerry Swain, director of the Family Division of the Camp Lejeune Housing Office.

The project includes demolition of all previous, dated housing in the neighborhoods. Those who had been residing in homes slated for demolition were relocated to other AMCC housing.

Swain said to date no one has notified his office to report a hardship as a result of the added wait time.

"If we found there to be hardship cases where someone had difficulty extending a current rental agreement, the Housing Office would be available to assist in getting an extension or even find a temporary residence," said Swain.

Officials of AMCC are confident the new homes will be worth the wait.

"This temporary situation is one that may seem to cause inconvenience for our families now," said Matt Lynn, AMCC development manager. "However, the minor increase in wait list time will be worth it in the end. Our military service families will be moving from older, smaller homes into brand new homes that offer more space, amenities and features that these families deserve."

AMCC officials report that 817 homes in Tarawa Terrace II are being demolished. In their place will be 778 new, larger homes. Watkins Village is slated to receive 252 new homes, compared with the 188 that were there. Some of the extra families not returning to a home in TTII may get the additional homes in Watkins Village, said Joshua Brown, marketing manager for AMCC.

The new three-bedroom homes will range in size from 1,618 square feet to 1,749 square feet and will be two-story or one-story homes; 78 of the homes meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

Each home is designed with an open living plan and will have 9-foot ceilings and eat-in kitchens.

While residents of Tarawa Terrace II and Watkins Village are in a holding pattern, the wait is over for residents of Camp Lejeune's Paradise Point. Residents there recently returned to newly renovated homes.

Renovations have been completed on all 123 Capehart-style homes in the neighborhood.

The 18-month-long project resulted in each home receiving new family rooms, utility areas, two-car garages, front porches, rear patios and screened porches.

The homes are designated for officers and their families.

"We are excited to have our first house type completed at AMCC," said Kathleen Murney, general manager of AMCC. "These greatly improved homes will provide officer-grade military families with homes that offer them the quality and conveniences they deserve for years to come."

The completion of the homes at Paradise Point marks the first in a series of renovation projects to be completed.

Other scheduled improvement projects encompass nine neighborhoods on Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station. Renovations, as well as new construction projects, are expected to be completed by 2013.

Questions concerning current wait list status should be directed to the Camp Lejeune Family Housing Office at 910-450-1627 during normal business hours.



Contact Kevin Forsythe at kforsythe@freedomenc.com or 910-353-1171. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.

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