Homes from '47 meet end

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The recent demolition of a pair of buildings at Travis Air Force Base marked a step from the base's past into its future.

Two facilities in base housing were leveled as part of housing corporation Balfour Beatty's multi-phase construction process.

The buildings were among the oldest on base, according to Orlando Gardner, chief of real estate management for the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron.

Balfour Beatty Communities Project Director Mark Dupree said the buildings dated back to the base's infancy in 1947, when it was known as Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base.
"This is a symbolic occurrence," Mr. Dupree said.

The buildings were the last of the swamp cooler-style facilities located at Travis, meaning they used an evaporative air system to cool the homes during warmer months. The facilities also did not have grounded power, Mr. Dupree said.

Col. Jim Vechery, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Col. James Spaulding, 60th Mission Support Group commander, were on site for the demolition and took the first turns on the excavator, they took the first swipes at the swamp cooler units.

The facilities, formerly located at 451 A St. No. 1 and No. 2 (known as Bldgs. 8959 and 8960,) were vacant, but were previously used as officers' quarters, said Mr. Dupree.
"It is part of the continued housing privatization project," said John Dunn, 60th Mission Support Group deputy commander.

The buildings are in open space next to the in-progress community center being built, Mr. Dupree said.

"The space is reserved for future work, if there is any," Mr. Dupree said.

The demolition of the buildings is the second part of a multi-stage demolition and construction plan. Twenty-six of the 42 buildings scheduled for demolition have come down, Mr. Dupree said.

The 16 remaining facilities are in the Arnold Estates area and on Bradley Boulevard.

Earlier this month, Balfour Beatty unveiled 24 complete homes for senior noncommissioned officers.
Machado Bros. Inc., a construction firm from Petaluma, Calif., is doing the demolition work.