Mountain Home AFB housing privatized

BOISE, IDAHO — Military officials say the London-based firm Balfour Beatty Communities will take over housing management at the Mountain Home Air Force base.

The Idaho Statesman reports that Balfour Beatty already operates more than 44,000 military homes in 23 states and Washington, D.C. The company will begin managing 844 single-family houses and duplexes and 680 dormitory rooms at the Idaho base on Thursday.

Base housing official P.J. Brown said he expects a smooth transition. Balfour Beatty plans to demolish 180 dilapidated homes at the base, build 60 new homes and renovate three others.

The housing privatization project launched in 1996 after the government found more than half of the 257,000 housing units owned by the military nationwide needed to be renovated or replaced.