Photo By Lance Cpl. Janelle Chapman | Col. Brian Annichiarico, Marine Corps Base Hawaii base commanding officer, demolishes...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - The last family housing unit in the Ulupau neighborhood of Marine Corps Base Hawaii was demolished April 15 marking the beginning of a new renovated era.
Phase C was the final house of 3,000 to be demolished in the construction and renovation of housing units at Navy and Marine Corps bases on Oahu and Kauai. The demolition of this quadplex represented the final milestone in giving military families new, updated homes.
“It became routine,” said Will Boudra, vice president for development with Forest City Development in Hawaii. “A house would go up and a house would go down. We wanted to pause at the end and bring the leadership in to commemorate the partnership with the Department of the Navy.”
Col. Brian Annichiarico, MCB Hawaii commanding officer, and Navy Capt. Jeffrey James, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam commander, attended the ceremony Monday. Boudra was the main speaker for the ceremony, explaining the demolition, rebuilding project and participating companies. Annichiarico and James were invited to speak during the ceremony. Annichiarico had the privilege of partially demolishing the last house with an excavator.
“It’s the last phase of construction and I couldn’t be more excited,” Annichiarico said.
The project began in 2004 and the last phase, the Ulupau neighborhood, is estimated for completion in April 2014. Two-hundred and eighteen homes will replace the now-demolished ones. When the units are built, the oldest house on base will only be six years old, young compared with the approximately 30-year-old homes that once stood here.
“I can take pride and honor in this,” Annichiarico added.
After the nearly 10 years of demolishing and rebuilding homes, the project is almost complete. Additionally, to promote green energy, every house receives power from solar panels on its roof.
Three of the homes were tested and achieved a Net Zero energy status, meaning their solar panels produced more electricity than the household used, according to Forest City Military Communities.
Annichiarico said Marine Corps Base Hawaii strives to be a leader in eco renovations, hoping to set an example to other bases on the mainland and around the world.
“Today’s demolition is a culmination of almost a decade of construction and renovations at Navy and Marine Corps neighborhoods on Oahu and Kauai,” said Greg Raap, Forest City Military Communities regional vice president. “As part of the public-private partnership, we are rebuilding approximately half of the total inventory of 6,342 units across 34 neighborhoods in an effort to provide the most up-to-date housing for our Navy and Marine Corps families to enjoy.”
Besides rebuilding military homes and neighborhoods, Forest City looks to improve community centers, swimming pools, and parks. It is not only trying to update the military’s living quarters but their “play” quarters as well.
“This helps our military know their families are taken care of,” James said. “It lets them not worry,and focus on what needs to be done.”
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2013 20:20 |
| Story ID: | 106170 |
| Location: | KANEOHE BAY, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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