Thousands of sailors in the Norfolk, Virginia, area will be living in upgraded barracks as a result of a $1.7 billion effort to modernize housing for them, Pentagon officials announced Friday.
The project, Homeport Hampton Roads Phase II, will replace aging facilities and address unaccompanied housing requirements at Navy bases in Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
“Ships, aircraft, weapons, and networks matter. But our decisive advantage is, and always will be, the warfighter. That means investing in the places where sailors live, train, recover, and prepare for the next mission,” Michael P. Duffey, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said in a statement.
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Substandard barracks conditions have been a well-documented problem across the U.S. military for several years. Government oversight reports, congressional hearings and tenant surveys have exposed systemic quality-of-life concerns in government-owned barracks and privatized military housing.
The complaints from troops and their families have ranged from black mold and poor air quality to plumbing failure and rodent infestation.
The project will construct or renovate 8,098 beds over the next five years. By leveraging private-sector capital, the agreement is expected to save taxpayers more than $325 million and free the service’s resources for other quality-of-life priorities in the Navy, officials said.
“This investment in the renovation and building of housing for more than 8,000 sailors in the Hampton Roads area ensures our sailors have the quality of service they deserve while being good stewards of the American taxpayer’s money,” said acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao.
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