EDITORIAL
Army housing plans has much to offer O'ahu

The recently announced $100 million housing renovation project announced by the Army is the latest in the Pentagon's ongoing effort to upgrade living conditions for its troops.

The Air Force and Navy have similar projects under way. They couldn't be more timely, as the military is finding that its recruitment efforts are bearing little fruit these days.

One of many reasons behind the slow recruiting is the quality of life experienced in the military's barracks and housing. But in 1996 the Pentagon kicked off a new process for pouring billions of dollars into new housing.

In 1998, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio became the first base to get started. The extensive work on O'ahu will obviously be good for the economy, and may also free up some civilian rental housing in a tight market.

The nature of the process, which includes extensive development of "neighborhoods" and a 50-year commitment by the contractor to maintain the homes, favors large Mainland construction corporations. The more nimble local players must attempt to be recruited as subcontractors.

"I am ashamed of what we ask our soldiers to live in," said Lt. Col. Floyd Quintana, director of public works for Army Garrison Hawai'i. He's right, but not for much longer.