WASHINGTON
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today announced that construction on the stalled privatized housing project at Moody Air Force Base will resume in the next few months and management will begin immediately. Lenders stopped funding in March 2007 and construction at Moody stalled after the estimated cost of the project exceeded available funding.

“This is a day of victory for our airmen and women and their families, in particular the thousands of new personnel expected to arrive next year,” said Chambliss, who has pressed the Air Force to resolve the issue and who, along with U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., introduced bipartisan legislation mandating improved oversight, reporting, bonding levels, and best practices for Department of Defense housing privatization projects. “Unfortunately, poor performance by a contractor got us to this point, and I am pleased the Air Force recognized that this situation should’ve been handled more effectively and that they took action to get this project moving again,” Chambliss added.

“Getting this project back on track brings us closer to our ultimate goal - providing quality housing to our airmen and women,” said Congressman Kingston. “While we fought and hoped for more for our subcontractors, completing this project will be jobs and capital into the area at a much needed time.”

“The delays in the completion of the housing project at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta were unacceptable and have a significant impact on our airmen and their families as well as the local community,” Isakson said. “I’m pleased the Air Force recognized the severity of the problems and steps have been taken to resolve these issues and move forward with construction.”

The “American Eagle” projects, which in addition to the project at Moody, consist of projects at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, and Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, and have now been sold to HP Communities LLC, a limited liability company owned by Hunt Development Group and Pinnacle AMS Development Company. The two companies have a history of successfully executing and managing housing privatization projects for all military services. Management of the Moody project by HP Communities LLC will begin effective immediately, and new construction will begin within a few months. The end state of the Moody project will include 50 completed homes and 206 renovated homes.