Category Archives: North Haven

Pictured Left to Right, Ivan Bolden, Chief of Public Private Initiatives, U.S. Army, LTG Michael Ferriter, Commander of Installation Management Command (IMCOM), Chuck Downham, Project Director for North Haven, Cyndi Larson, Chief of RCI Housing, Chris Anderson, Director of Property Management for North Haven, CSM Donald Felt, U.S. Army Garrison. Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army, cleared for release

Fairbanks, AK. – January 10, 2012 – North Haven recently was honored with a national award during the Professional Housing Management Association’s annual professional development seminar.  The Professional Housing Management Association has named North Haven, “2011 Top U.S. Army Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) Project.”

“Receiving the 2011 RCI Top Residential Project of the Year Award is an incredible achievement for North Haven as we approach the anniversary of our third year of operation,” said Chuck Downham, Project Director of North Haven.  “We are providing an exceptional living experience for our Soldiers and their Families in one of the most challenging climatic environments in the military.”

The announcement was made at the annual Professional Housing Management Association (PHMA) and Military Housing and Lodging Institute (MHLI) Professional Development event held in San Diego the first week of February. The event offers networking and education for military housing and lodging professionals.  The vision of PHMA is, “To serve as a catalyst in inspiring housing professionals and their organizations to build and revitalize for the future and to provide quality communities for all the members of the armed forces and their Families.”

Accepting the award was Cyndi Larson, Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely Chief of RCI Housing, Chuck Downham, Project Director, and Chris Anderson, Director of Property Management.  “This is very exciting.  Exciting and humbling,” said Anderson.  “Our team comes to work every day for one reason and that is to take care of our residents.”

Presenting the award was LTG Michael Ferriter, Commander of Installation Management Command (IMCOM), Ivan Bolden, Chief, Public Private Initiatives at the U.S. Army, and CSM Donald Felt, U. S. Army Garrison.

This military service award recognizes a housing team whose collective actions enhanced the living experiences of Soldiers and their Families through significant management accomplishments, including property management, maintenance management, project management and development. North Haven achieved industry leadership with its emphasis on resident services programs, community integration and support, commitment to safety, innovative resident communication, environmental sustainability, and a focus on resident feedback.  “We have the best team and it is a privilege to work with each and every one of them,” said Larson.  “Lend Lease, Winn Residential, and the RCI team members have established a collaborative team to overcome the challenges of the project.”

Downham emphasized the exceptional team work that resulted in acknowledgement as the top RCI project in the nation for 2011, “We have formed a strong partnership with the Army and share a common commitment to provide quality homes and communities for our Soldiers and their Families.”  North Haven’s vision is to provide, “Premier living for today’s military Families,” as they navigate their great Alaska journey.

About North Haven

Through the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, the U.S. Army formed a 50 year partnership with Lend Lease to finance, develop, build, renovate and maintain the posts 1,800 homes on Forts Wainwright and Greely.  The partnership is known as North Haven Communities.  North Haven is dedicated to creating welcoming, safe communities that positively influence the way our Service Members and their Families live.  North Haven is also committed to positively contributing to the local and regional economy by working with small businesses, relying on local resources and hiring local people.  North Haven adheres to best practices in safety, energy-efficient construction, and sustainability.

About Lend Lease

Lend Lease is a leading global real estate service business, having developed, constructed and managed real estate assets around the world for more than 50 years.  Listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, the Lend Lease Group operates in 30 countries on six continents with a significant presence in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

In the United States, Lend Lease’s public partnership business is the nation’s leader in public/private community development. With a focus on creating sustainable value, Lend Lease creates communities that regenerate our environment, enrich people’s lives and foster economic growth.  Lend Lease has worked extensively with the Department of Defense through the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI), a program that provides for the transfer of military housing assets to private sector companies. With over 40,000 residential units, 192 apartments and 8,000 hotel rooms in its portfolio, Lend Lease will finance, develop, build, renovate and operate these sites for at least 50 years.

Betsy Woolley
North Haven Communications Coordinator

On September 26, The North Haven Property Management team successfully reached a full 654 days with no employees or subcontractors incurring an injury resulting in lost time from work.  To help give some perspective, in the past 22 months, the team has worked 357,540 man hours since the last lost time incident.  Not only that, but 1,778 Change of Occupancy Maintenance Service (COMS) and 32,290 service calls have been completed since the last lost time incident.

All employees are well-versed in Global Minimum Requirements, a set of safety standards and means and methods required to be followed by projects managed by Lend Lease.  All employees and subcontractors working for North Haven also attend regular “safety stand-downs.”  These briefings help keep safety at the top of everyone’s mind, and help focus on the safety topics most prominent to the current work at hand.  Lend Lease is committed to Safety as our Top Priority and work to be Incident and Injury Free each and every day.

Doug Lammers, Director of Maintenance for North Haven and Scott McEntire, Environment, Health & Safety Coordinator for North Haven have been working hard to create and maintain a safe working environment, including the time spent commuting to and from work.  Lammers and McEntire launched a “Safe Access Program.”  The program educates employees regarding safe practices transporting themselves from their work vehicle to their home during the dark, dangerous winter months.  Job safety is not only discussed in the North Haven workplace during weekly safety meetings, but employees and managers talk about safety throughout the day.  Team members are recognizing risk and taking initiative to eliminate job risks.  Everyone recognizes the commitment to, “Safety First” as a real part of their work day.  Not only are the number of days free from lost time incidents rising, morale is up too.  Lammers noted that, “Morale is higher due to actions by Corporate and on-site management’s dedication and never ending support to safety.”

About North Haven
Through the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, The U.S. Army formed a 50 year partnership with Actus Lend Lease to finance, develop, build, renovate, maintain, and operate the 1,800 homes on Forts Wainwright and Greely.  The partnership is known as North Haven Communities LLC.  North Haven is dedicated to creating welcoming, safe communities that positively influence the way our Service Members and their Families live.  North Haven is also committed to positively contributing to the local and regional economy by working with small businesses, relying on local resources and hiring local people.  North Haven adheres to best practices in safety, energy-efficient construction, and sustainability.

Ground Zero Flag to be presented at North Haven 3rd Annual National Night Out

North Haven is honored to announce the “Ground Zero Flag” will be presented for public viewing at our 3rd Annual celebration of National Night Out (NNO) on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Birch Hill Ski Area on Fort Wainwright.  National Night Out is put on by North Haven free of charge for all military families who live and work at Fort Wainwright.

On New Year’s Day 2011, the Heroes of the Diamond began the Road to Ground Zero Flag Tour presented by Ashford University and Louisville Slugger to escort the American Flag that was on site when President George W. Bush delivered his famous “Bullhorn Speech” following the September 11 attacks.  Over the past decade, the Ground Zero Flag has been flown on over military bases, U.S. Navy ships and presented to thousands of heroes in ceremonies all over the world. This unique and historic tour has appeared in every type of event from NASCAR to NHL, NBA, MLB, MiLB, PGA and PBR to provide everyone in America the opportunity to honor, view and touch during its cross-country back to New York for the 10th anniversary of 9-11.

Heroes of the Diamond
Founded in 1990, at the request of President H.W Bush, the Heroes of the Diamond are the only team in the world to feature players from every branch of the military and first responders. You can’t miss ‘em because they wear full camouflage uniforms with a bright yellow ribbon and some of their players are based right here in your hometown. For over 20 years the team has been dedicated to the proud tradition of “Promoting the Awareness and Support of our brave Armed Forces and First Responders.  If you would like to attend, please call Ft. Wainwright PAO for an escort while on Post, 353-6780 or 378-7776. August 15, 2011

A milestone in the U.S. Department of Defense privatized housing program was celebrated at a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on October 14 on Fort Wainwright.  North Haven rolled out the first new homes built on Fort Wainwright at a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Gertsch Heights development. Guest speakers were, Colonel Timothy Jones, Garrison Commander, USAG, Fort Wainwright, Cynthia Larson, RCI and Housing Division Chief Directorate of Public Works, Fort Wainwright and Chuck Downham, Project Director, North Haven.  After the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony a reception was held in one of the new homes.

To meet the challenges of providing a better quality of life and to provide for the well-being of Soldiers and their Families, the U.S. Army formed a partnership with Actus Lend Lease called North Haven. North Haven recently closed financially on a privatization project encompassing Forts Wainwright and Greely Army Posts.  The financial closing includes a $377 million Initial Development Plan that will span seven years and includes the development, construction, renovation and management of 1,815 homes over 50 years. North Haven also will build pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, community centers, playgrounds and a variety of other amenities.

Photo by Lori Glassco including: Chuck Downham, Project Director for North Haven, Colonel Timothy Jones, Garrison Commander, USAG, Fort Wainwright, Cynthia Larson, RCI and Housing Division Chief Directorate of Public Works, Fort Wainwright

Revitalization of community housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI), a critical component in the effort to eliminate inadequate housing and foster a better quality of life for U.S. Service Members and their families.  Upon completion, the project will construct 414 new homes and renovate 169 existing homes at Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely.

NHC is committed to positively contributing to the local and regional economy by working with small businesses, relying on local resources and hiring local people.  The most recent round of bids reflect over 91percent were awarded to Alaska-based contractors and vendors.  Of 45 bids, 41 went to Alaska-based businesses.  “Utilizing Lathrop High School’s Army Junior ROTC Color Guard at this event, when there were many Fort Wainwright, Army Color Guards that were available was an appropriate reflection of the partnership between Fort Wainwright and Fairbanks,” Said Colonel Timothy Jones, Garrison Commander of Fort Wainwright.  “The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, and these new homes are a reflection of that successful partnership.”

About Actus Lend Lease

Excelling at large, complex developmental projects, Actus Lend Lease works with institutional owners to create value and deliver exceptional returns.  With more than 40,000 residential units in its portfolio, Acuts Lend Lease has created fully master planned mixed-use communities throughout the United States.  Actus is part of the Lend Lease global family, which includes Bovis and Delfin Lend Lease.  Global projects of note include: Army Hawaii Family Housing in Oahu, HI, Greenwich Peninsula in London, AOL Time Warner Center in New York, The Sydney Olympic Village and New York’s Grand Central Station Terminal.  Actus Lend lease is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., and employs more than 500 people nationwide.

Betsy Woolley
North Haven Communities
(907) 750-6448