Former Lowry Air Force Base, Colo. Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., served primarily as a technical training base throughout its nearly 60-year history as an active-duty installation. Additionally Lowry specialized in aerial photography, intelligence and training for the B-52 Stratofortress prior to its closure in 1994. Lowry AFB was recommended for closure by the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 1991. The base was officially closed Sept. 30, 1994. When Lowry closed, the Air Force retained 80 acres known as Buckley Annex which was closed under the 2005 BRAC round. Today, both the former Lowry AFB and Buckley Annex are two of 40 former installations managed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center in San Antonio, Texas. Environmental activities AFCEC continues to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to ensure environmental cleanup activities satisfy all regulatory standards while protecting human health and the environment. AFCEC has invested $84 million on BRAC cleanup actions at the former installation, and the final stages of cleanup are underway. Property transfer AFCEC achieved Whole Base Transfer of Lowry in 2006 and Buckley Annex in 2012. The Lowry Economic Redevelopment Authority has transformed the former base into a sustainable, mixed-use community with more than 4,500 homes and 9,500 residents. More than 140 employers and 25,000 people live, work and go to school in the Lowry community. LERA is currently working to redevelop Buckley Annex following the Lowry model to fit the needs of the community. Path forward The Air Force and its partners will continue to work together to complete environmental cleanup for the benefit of the community. (Current as of December 2012)