MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- Residents of Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow have been hearing about it for roughly 20 years. Now, after waiting patiently for so long, the base has begun the process of upgrading its housing units.
All the housing on base will be replaced with new units by 2010, according to a timeline generated by the Public Works Office here. The housing project started in January when the housing quadrant between Montezuma Street and Kwajalein Street was chosen as the site for the new housing. Five sites were initially selected for consideration, but this area had the most advantages. Some of these advantages are: site work in this area is cheaper leaving more money to go towards the houses, it has an existing utilities infrastructure and has potential for growth.
The major disadvantage to building in this area is that some residents of this area will be required to relocate into available base housing on the west side of Cape Gloucester Avenue. Possibly by December, said Capt. Teddy Gilmore, public works officer.
"Those residents who are forced to relocate will receive partial dislocation allowance," said Gilmore. "Also, many residents who must relocate will be moved into a larger house than they are currently in."
Club Street housing will also be replaced, but will not require residents of this area to move. Since the new housing will be constructed next to the existing units, residents of this area may live in their current home until the new units are finished.
Though designs have not yet been decided upon, houses from the same company already line Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms' streets. Because of this, and several trips to those bases, several attributes can be expected in the new housing units here. The two-story housing units will include an attached garage, laundry room and cable, phone and internet hookups in every room. Lawn care will also be a thing of the past with the new housing. Shrubbery and decorative rocks will replace current landscaping.
Development and plans for this new housing has been in the works since the late 80's, said Gilmore. Because the current housing units were built in the 40's and 50's many problems plague the homes and plumbing and electrical systems are well below the California state standards.
Even though many will be forced to relocate, most of the residents have been happy to hear about the new housing. Preparations have already started as some residents have agreed to move and in housing units not currently occupied, the housing department has begun turning off electricity and getting them ready to tear down.
At the time of this writing there were no plans to build anything in the old housing's place. "We want to stay away from the fence line because of dust caused by off base quarries," said David Madrid, housing manager. "However, a new youth center may be built north of the new housing area."