Work on the town center at the heart of Joint Base Lewis-McChord Main is well on the road to completion.

"We've got 13 neighborhoods to plan for, renovate or redevelop," said Boyd Lucas, Equity Residential's vice president for construction management. "The focus is on quality housing."

One of those focus points is the new town center - a 220-townhouse and apartment urban residential community - under construction at the heart of JBLM Main. The center is designed to house younger soldiers who will be able to walk to work and shop in the area.  The living quarters will be pet and smoke free.  Each modular home will be a 1,300 square foot living area with two bedrooms.

"It's the creation of a downtown," said Nancy Barnes, branch chief, Residential Community Initiative. "One that welcomes our soldiers and provides for their needs."

The Department of Army exercises oversight on the project, and Barnes ensures that strict protocols are followed during the construction.

RCI is the Army's housing privatization program that applies management skills, innovation and the best practices of American business to provide quality family housing and residential communities for the soldiers and airmen at JBLM.
Four of RCI's objectives are as follows:

• RCI is a business, not business as usual.

• The chain of command is between the RCI partner and the garrison commander.

• Housing will be built to community standards, and the housing will be Energy Star efficient.

• Amenities will be equivalent to those found in quality off-post communities.

Under RCI, the Army works with private sector firms such as Equity Residential to manage and operate family housing with the private sector entity serving as the managing member. A typical partnership agreement is for a 50-year period with an option to extend an additional 25 years.

Making sure that a project like the Town Center comes on line in an integrated and timely manner is the responsibility of the public works office at JBLM.

"We make sure that all the pieces in this project come together," said Tom Tolman, the Public Works master planner.

He cited as an example the laying of sewer and electric lines on Pendleton Avenue.

"We don't want to install something only to have to take it out at a later date because we didn't address the physicals issues involved in the construction," said Tolman.

Work on the center is ahead of schedule, said Lucas.  The first occupants should arrive in September, and all construction should be done a year later.

"This is a great alternative to what we've had," said Grace.

Soldiers and airmen are encouraged to stop by the Housing Office in Building 2150 to pick up an application or to call (253) 912-2150.