New Homes Completed at Arnold

Officials at Arnold AFB, Tenn., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of new, energy-efficient homes on base. The ceremony took place on July 31, and families started moving in just hours later, according to Arnold’s Aug. 6 release. Private developer Forest City Military Communities manages the new homes, which Hensel Phelps Construction built with airmen’s need in mind. They have features like a two-car garage, spacious kitchen, screened-in back porch, and lots of storage space. “One thing we’ve learned is our military families really want the garages,” said John Hoyt, Forest City’s vice president of development. He added, “And they need lots of storage. So we built houses with larger bedrooms.” Forest City last fall started tearing down 40 housing units on base that were close to 50 years old. Twenty-two new homes, 14 of which are now completed, will replace them. The remaining eight homes are scheduled for completion next spring. (Arnold report by Patrick Ary)