CAFB holds housing ground breaking ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman Josh Harbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Pinnacle-Hunt held a ground-breaking ceremony for the new construction of privatized housing on Columbus AFB July 29 in State housing area. 

The ground-breaking ceremony was held to mark the start of construction on 145 new housing units in State and Magnolia villages along with the renovation of 106 units in Capitol Village. 

The event hallmarked the transformation from the 1950s era housing units to 21st century housing on CAFB. 

Along with the renovations come new recreational facilities within the family housing areas, including new play lots for youth, picnic areas and a community welcome center. 

"We have a lot of incentives for military to live on base. There is free lawn care, no deposit, no pet deposit. Security is a big thing with our residents, and it is pretty much a guarantee here," said Cassandra Price, Community Manager for the Landings at Columbus. 

There were a variety of dignitaries at the ceremony to assist 14th Flying Training Wing commander Col. Roger Watkins with the ground breaking. Col. Mark Brown, 14th Mission Support Group commander, Cassandra Price, Community Director for Pinnacle Columbus AFB, Robert Smith, Mayor of Columbus, Daniel Chavira, Vice President of Hunt Development, and Harry Sanders, President of Lowndes County Board of Supervisors all manned a shovel to team up to turn the first load of dirt for the project. 

"I'm very, very happy to be part of this partnership between Pinnacle and Hunt to improve the quality of life for our Airmen," said Col. Watkins, 14th FTW commander. 

Pinnacle and Hunt development provides housing to the Air Force along with the Army and Navy for service members and their families. Pinnacle has been managing the military housing at Columbus since October 2007. Construction is expected to take over a year to complete.