Fort Carson begins demo of 300 family homes, makes way for new construction

The demolition of 300 family homes began Tuesday at Fort Carson, Colo., to make space for 245 new homes for junior enlisted soldiers and their families.

“Today’s demolition event is an exciting step toward providing Fort Carson families with new, modern and convenient housing options, something inextricably linked to quality of life,” said Col. Phill Warren, Fort Carson garrison commander. “When a service member deploys, the peace of mind that comes with knowing their family is comfortable and taken care of allows them to focus on the mission at hand. That’s exactly what the Arapahoe Village construction project aims to achieve.”

The housing in Arapahoe Village dates back to the 1950s, and replacing it is the second phase of an ongoing project at Fort Carson to build 477 new homes.

The three- and four-bedroom townhomes planned for the neighborhood are like those that began opening last year to soldiers in the old Cherokee West Village. Each has energy-efficient appliances, an open floor plan, an attached garage and infrastructure to charge an electric vehicle.

So far, 80 new homes are complete and occupied while another 152 are under construction, according to Balfour Beatty Communities, the private company that manages housing at Fort Carson.

The company, which has more than 3,200 homes on the base, announced in March it refinanced $444 million of its Fort Carson housing portfolio to allow for this new construction project to expand. The company also plans to renovate 334 existing homes and expects work to continue through 2030.

The first phase of the Arapahoe Village project cost about $67 million, according to Balfour Beatty. It declined to comment on the cost of the second phase.

 “Providing high-quality homes and communities for service members and their families is central to our work,” a Balfour Beatty spokesperson said in a statement.

Balfour Beatty, headquartered in Malvern, Pa., manages housing for 55 Army, Navy and Air Force bases across the U.S., and has ongoing work at other installations. It has built 19 new homes at Fort Jackson, S.C., and aims to complete 76 new homes in the Pine Tree Terrace neighborhood at Fort Gordon, Ga., by the end of the year. It also has 69 new homes under construction at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

“We continue to work closely with the military service branches and our partners to support the housing needs of service members and their families,” the company’s spokesperson said.

The company in June announced it completed an independent compliance monitorship required as part of a settlement with the Justice Department in 2021. In the settlement, Balfour Beatty pleaded guilty to one count of major fraud against the United States and was sentenced to pay more than $60 million in criminal fines and restitution.