San Antonio Studies Lackland Growth (Houston, Henderson: 2011, houses, new construction)

[majormadmax]

From an Air Force Association news release...

San Antonio Studies Lackland Growth: The San Antonio City Council has approved a grant of $685,000 to study the growth anticipated for Lackland Air Force Base, much of it due to BRAC 2005 decisions but also because the Air Force now wants to install its new cyber-centric 24 Air Force at the Texas base. BRAC 2005 calls for consolidation of personnel from various agencies at Lackland by August 2010, which has spurred the base to begin a $75 million renovation of its 460,000-square foot Building 171 and other projects, such as the new Inter-American Air Forces training complex. "It's important to get ahead of issues before we have an impact," said James Henderson, Office of Military Affairs deputy director for San Antonio, according to a Lackland release. He added: "What happens at Lackland and Port San Antonio [the former Kelly Air Force Base] does not stay within just those confines; it impacts the whole community. The study will give us a nice roadmap to see the big picture and figure things out." Lackland officials estimate that the addition of the new 24th AF will add 2,000 personnel, bringing the base's daily population to more than 50,000. Lackland and Randolph Air Force Base and Ft. Sam Houston are also working out details on how they will share installation support in a joint base arrangement. (Lackland report by Mike Joseph)

I was unaware of the new IAAF facility, but found details from another AFA press release...

New Training Complex for Lackland: The Air Force has launched a new construction project that will bring a 74,000 sq. ft. training complex by the fall of 2010 to the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Lackland AFB, Tex. The San Antonio Business Journal reported yesterday that the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment and the Army Corps of Engineers have awarded an $18.5 million contract to AMEC Earth & Environment of Plymouth Meeting, Pa. The complex will house classrooms, aircraft operations, and hangar maintenance training areas as well as administrative space, according to the newspaper. This type of training for the IAAFA, which educates airmen from partner nations in Latin America, currently goes on at Port San Antonio, the former Kelly Air Force Base. But it is being relocated to Lackland courtesy of BRAC 2005.

And one more info tidbit from the end of June related to all of the above...

Air Education and Training Command hosted a three-day workshop earlier this month to put finishing touches on plans to provide installation support in San Antonio as two Air Force Bases—Lackland and Randolph—and one Army post—Ft. Sam Houston—form a joint basing arrangement directed by BRAC 2005; the consolidation, to be completed by 2011, will form the largest customer-based organization within DOD. (San Antonio Joint Program Office report by Ron Rogers)

Just keeping everyone informed on the military developments in SA!

Cheers! M2

[Steel Man]

M3,

What are they going to build next to Building 2000 where the Lackland AFB gun club skeet place used to be?

[majormadmax]

Steel

From what I have heard (so, in other words, nothing official), it will be more housing. I also have heard that it means there will be a road going from Security Hill to the "domestic" side of Lackland that won't require those of us who work up there to drive all the way down across Leon Creek and back up the other side (which was impossible when the old Kelly golf course floods as it does every couple of years). I would suspect a road would run along the fence line adjacent to SW Military and the houses would be back from the road a bit, maybe continuing past where the housing area is now and by the school.

If you have noticed, there is major reconstruction going on at the first intersection by the BX/commissary gate. Whether it is in preparation for this new road is anyone's guess.

Cheers! M2

[SilverCreek78250]

There is housing going up there, but the specific area (the old R&G club) was at one point approved (but not funded) for a MilCon project to build a new AFIOC building. Doubt that will ever happen though. With all the constant changes and reorgs that take place, one organization starts to build something and by the time it finally opens, another organization will cut the ribbon!

[Hydro1]

Does any one know of a Hydro Excavation Project going on in Lackland AFB Tx? We are trying to find out who is the contractor handling this project.

[majormadmax]

Do you have any idea where the project is located on Lackland? There are several going on at the moment; but if you can provide more details I may be able to track it down for you...

The other alternative is to contact Lackland Air Force Base - Contracting.

[Hydro1]

No I'm really not sure.... I do know that the company doing the Hydro Excavation work is H2X and that it involves tunneling under a building or buildings.

The hydro units while working are noisy machines. You may be able to hear the sound of the blowers roaring. Imagine the sound of a vacuum cleaner and multiply it by 100.

Thanks

[majormadmax]

I would advise contact the contracting office, as I work on Security Hill and have not witnessed anything like you've described...

Cheers! M2

[Hydro1]

Ok. Any chance you know somebody at Fort Sam Houston that might be able to help? I'm starting to think that it might be over there.

[majormadmax]

I don't know anyone over at the contracting office there, but here is a link for it...

SOUTHERN REGION CONTRACTING CENTER-WEST

Cheers! M2