[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 166 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUED LEASE OR EVENTUAL CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN 
    FEDERAL LAND WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF FORT WAINWRIGHT MILITARY 
                    RESERVATION IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA

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                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2012

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation to continue the conversation on how to preserve and protect 
an important neighborhood in Fairbanks, Alaska from eventual 
destruction.
  In 1987, the Army entered into a Section 801 build-to-lease housing 
contract for 400-home community on seventy-six acres of land. These 
homes, consisting of three, four, and five bedroom units, a maintenance 
and leasing facility, associated roads and parking areas, landscaping, 
eighteen playgrounds, and a central heating system including 39 boiler 
houses, are an important source of housing for military families and 
the local area. This group of homes is more than just housing or a 
neighborhood, it is a community.
  The housing lease for this Section 801 contract expired in 2007 and 
the ground lease is scheduled to expire on June 26, 2018. Without an 
extension of the ground lease, the 400 houses must be removed from 
their current location no later than 180 days following the expiration 
of the lease. The most likely outcome of this situation is a complete 
demolition of these properties.
  Currently, these 400 houses are nearly 100% occupied (99% in August 
of 2012) which is an unbiased testament to the value of these houses. 
Additionally, the four and five bedroom units are a valuable but very 
limited resource for the large number of military families with 
multiple children stationed in the area. In fact, seeing the value of 
these homes to both the military community and the local tax base, 
several community leaders and interests have written to me over the 
past couple of years to express their support for extending the ground-
lease under these homes.
  While I understand that this is a sensitive issue, it simply does not 
make sense for 400 high-use and high-value homes to be torn down. There 
must be a better solution. This bill may not be that solution, but it 
is a critical step in the direction to finding one.

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