Base housing benefits military families Published Aug. 13, 2012 By Lea Johnson 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Airmen who have been eyeing the new housing being built on base may be happy to know there are homes ready for families to occupy. Most home are already built and construction of the new housing will be complete in late fall, along with renovations to existing housing. When everything is finished, there will be 669 housing units on base. For many years, families were put on a waiting list for housing. Thanks to the additional new homes at Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases, the waiting list is currently empty. Kerri Kilgore, Tierra Vista Communities director of property management, said there are many benefits to choosing base housing. "The community is virtually new," she said. "We tried to work with the Air Force amenities already present on the base and compliment them with what's not already here." A new community center will be opening this fall, Kilgore said. "It will have a splash park, a fitness room, and a multipurpose room residents can use for birthday parties and (gatherings)," she said. The parks in housing are also new or renovated, including Garden of the Dogs dog park. Another benefit to living on base is the proximity, not only to work, but also to other facilities, like the clinic and youth center, and to base events. This saves on gas, Killgore said, and also makes families more likely to attend base functions, such as the deployed family dinners. In addition to the convenience of base facilities, living on base also adds security for families. "We like to think of it as a gated community," Kilgore said. "It doesn't completely eliminate crime, but you get a different level of security than if you just live in a basic community downtown." Joey Sanchez, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron capital asset management chief, said families who are interested in living on base simply need to contact TVC or the government housing office and fill out an application. Housing is available for families of all sizes, Kilgore said. A maximum of two pets are also allowed with a $200 pet deposit. Included in the housing lease is 24/7 maintenance, trash and recycling, water, lawn care and snow removal from common areas. In addition, Kilgore said families can be certain homes will be clean and ready to occupy. "We have a very high standard for cleanliness of these homes," she said. "We recognize a military family goes through a lot of stress when they move. They don't want to be cleaning a bathroom or kitchen before they unpack." Those interested in viewing one of the new or renovated homes can request a tour through Kilgore. For information, call (719) 597-7200.