Progress continues towards agreement with Forest City Published Feb. 11, 2011 By Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE -- Representatives from Forest City Military Communities and the U.S. Air Force, including at the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment here, are continuing negotiations regarding privatized housing at Arnold AFB, Tenn., Charleston and Shaw AFBs, S.C., and Keesler AFB, Miss. "Over the past several months, we have been working diligently with our Air Force partners towards the transfer of privatized housing assets for the Southern Group Air Force [project]," said John Ehle, Forest City Military Communities senior vice president. "This is a rather complex process in which delays can arise, as has been the case with other privatized housing projects. We want to be sure the transfer is as seamless as possible as we look forward to enhancing the quality of life for the military families we will serve for years to come." The goal of ongoing communications is to make sure that both Forest City and the Air Force can reach clear agreement on a way forward that can then be presented to Airmen and their families. "We want our first presentation to be our final presentation" said Allen Fennigkoh, Air Force Housing Privatization project manager at AFCEE. "Our military members and their families remain our first priority, as always." As plans are finalized, each base will begin scheduling town hall meetings and other presentations so Airmen and their families will have a clear idea of what to expect, the anticipated schedule and the way forward, said AFCEE officials. Attendees at meetings will have an opportunity to ask questions, provide input and obtain information about the project schedule, anticipated milestones and other concerns they may have. Forest City's current military housing portfolio consists of approximately 12,000 homes in Hawaii, Colorado, Washington, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee, including the US Air Force Academy.