Housing is being modernized at Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. The $42 million project is intended to serve a wave of families coming in as U.S. Africa Command becomes established. (John Vandiver / Stars and Stripes)
STUTTGART, Germany — Not long ago, the little bedroom community perched above Stuttgart was on its way to becoming a relic.
With just a small group of families calling Robinson Barracks home and all of the U.S. military’s business being conducted at posts on the other side of town, the community was on the brink of being mothballed. But things can change fast in the military, and now this picturesque village is starting to bustle.
"There’s a lot being planned right now. It’s a community that’s growing," said Larry Reilly, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Garrison, Stuttgart.
The re-emergence of Robinson coincides with the advent of U.S. Africa Command, which is headquartered in Stuttgart. With a new command came the need for more housing.
Now, blocks of housing units are cordoned off at Robinson as construction crews work on a $42 million project to renovate 20 stairwells.
Work is scheduled to be completed around next August, according to garrison officials. Currently there are 175 families who call Robinson home. About another 100 families will be added when the renovations are finished.
The rapid growth means that more quality of life resources also will be needed in the community.
"When you have a lot of people come in it does challenge all your assets," he said. "Robinson is not being neglected. It’s being looked at in the broader picture," Reilly said.
Situated to the north of Stuttgart, residents at Robinson are somewhat isolated from the military community’s main population hubs to the south, where U.S. European Command, AFRICOM, and garrison headquarters are spread out between three posts. If the traffic is bad, the commute can take up to 45 minutes to get from Robinson to the other locations.
With most major services on the south side of town, garrison officials are looking for ways to bolster services in the north, Reilly said.
Certain things will not be feasible, such as setting up a full service Army Community Service office or child care center. But smaller satellite offices offering training programs and classes are being looked at, Reilly said.
Meanwhile, Robinson’s lone restaurant — the Sunset Bar and Grill — will be renovated and replaced with a yet-to-be named food service provider. Other services such as an outdoor recreation office could be added to the entertainment center grounds.
In the months ahead, surveys will be conducted to gauge what types of food contractors would fit with the community’s needs, Reilly said.
"If we can cater to their desires, then the more likely they’ll be to use what’s put there," he said.
The housing renovations at Robinson come on the heels of a similar effort at Kelley Barracks, where all the apartments on post were recently renovated.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer project manager described the type of work being done at Kelley and Robinson.
"Everything’s been modernized," said John Gerlach, the Corps’ resident engineer for Stuttgart. "It’s beautiful. There are all new ceramic tiles; the plumbing fixtures and the bathrooms are gorgeous."
