Fort Monroe Authority give leasing preference to post residents

By Stephanie Slater - CASEMATE STAFF WRITER

The Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority, which becomes the Fort Monroe Authority on July 1, recently announced that current and new residents of Fort Monroe will have the opportunity to sign leases with their new property management company before the post transitions to a state enclave September 2011.

Divaris Real Estate, Inc. and Frye Properties, Inc. have been retained to provide leasing, management and advisory services to the Authority in a joint venture called Old Point Comfort Real Estate Services, LLC. OPCRES has established a Preferential Leasing Program and encourages residents to remain in their homes after the post transfers to civilian control.

“Our goal is to achieve a seamless transition, so we are beginning our pre-leasing process 16 months before the Army ends its military mission in the fall, 2011,” said Bill Armbruster, FMFADA executive director. “Fort Monroe’s current residents will have the first opportunity to sign leases on the family housing they are living in, so that they can continue to enjoy the lifestyle of Monroe after it transitions from a U.S. Army installation to a state enclave.”

The first action for OPCRES will be the management and operation of the apartments in the old Wherry Housing area (Monroe Apartments) along Fenwick Road starting Aug. 1. The Army will terminate the existing lease agreement with Bush, Inc. and sign a new lease agreement with the FMA whose property management agency is OPCRES.

One-year leases with current terms will be offered, and OPCRES will honor current rental prices. Terms of leases include water, sewer, trash removal, customary and preventative maintenance, extermination and grounds keeping. Agreements regarding security deposits, pets, and rules and regulations also will be honored for the length of the current lease.

On June 23, the Army and FMA will hold a Town Hall at 6 p.m. in the Post Theater on Tidball Road to go over the upcoming change and new lease signing procedures.v

The FMA also plans to offer Soldiers currently living in on-post housing the opportunity to stay in their current home at their existing Basic Allowance for Housing rate and rent from the FMA instead of moving next summer when the tenant units depart for their new locations. Following Army transfer to FMA, the Soldier would sign a lease with the FMA for the remainder of the service member’s current tour of duty. The same terms will apply.

Additionally, the Army could possibly transfer some homes to the FMA earlier than September 2011 if vacancy rates allow. Those homes will be offered for rent to military families, retirees and DoD civilians at BAH rates matching the size and type of the unit being offered.

Anyone interested in living on Fort Monroe or leasing space is encouraged to visit www.fortmonroeauthority.com to enter their contact information.

For more information, call 637-7778.

Casemate, published for the Fort Monroe, VA community