Guam Naval Base Makes Progress On $35.9 Million North Tiapalo Housing Project

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) - Naval Base Guam held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 21 to celebrate the progress of the North Tipalo housing project. Twenty-eight families will live in new homes on base now that construction is complete on the first increment of phase one of the project.

The 28 homes are part of $35.9 million project that will introduce a total of 204 new residences by 2009.

At the ceremony Suzan Kear, Navy Housing's program director, noted the new units raise the bar for quality of life.

"The new Ocean Ridge at North Tipalao is complete with all the lifestyle amenities necessary to give our service members and their families a sense of place, a neighborhood that we can all be proud of," said Kear.

Storekeeper 1st Class James Menin, of U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting Office, Guam, who moved into on of the houses several days before the ceremony, said the new homes are a big improvement.

"It's exciting," he said. "My family loves our new house that we have. It's a great place to live," he said.

U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas administered the contract, which was awarded to Watts Constructors.

The three and four bedroom units are 1,450 and 1,640 square feet, respectively. Designed for style, comfort and efficiency, the homes can withstand 170 mile per hour winds and have storm shutters, granite counter tops and other upgrades.

"On the energy saving piece alone, the Navy's going to be realizing about a 30 percent decrease in the cost of energy," said Cmdr. Stephen Jackson, public works officer for NAVFAC Marianas. "It translates to about $600 a month, per unit, when you look at the water heating, the air conditioning and cooling."

Jackson said another benefit of the neighborhood is the proximity to recreational facilities including the Big Screen Theater, Youth and Teen Centers and Charles King Gym.

Jackson added the Navy will continue improvements to the housing area that will include connecting sidewalks, jogging trails and biking paths.

This story was written by Jesse Leon Guerrero, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas Public Affairs, www.navy.mil