Guest Post: Repurposing Military Bases

Prof. Howard Weiss developed the Excel OM and POM software that we provide free with our text.

In previous blogs for your Heizer/Render/Munson text, I have written about both failures and successes in repurposing facilities. The US has been successful in repurposing many of the more than 350 bases that the military has closed since 1988, saving over $500 million dollars due to these closures. But it is not a simple matter.

Safety Concerns While no two bases are alike, several are contaminated with toxic solvents, lead, radioactive materials, asbestos, and explosives residue. The US has spent over $1 billion dollars to address these issues and has been successful with remediation of the problems at some, but not all, of the installations. Remediating is not always a quick and easy process. For example, the groundwater at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver is not expected to be cleaned up until 2084. Another safety issue is that of unexploded ammunition.

Remediation It is challenging to remediate any facility. Environmental standards are stricter today, such as the use of asbestos in buildings, than when these bases were built. And there has been an increase over time in the number of local, state and the federal government environmental regulations. Some of the current laws apply specifically to base remediation while others refer to any organization. Another challenge is that remediation plans may need to be approved by several different government offices.

Uses There have been many different uses of closed installations. Several are still used for some military purpose such as training for the National Guard or veteran services. Other uses include office space, homes, apartments, schools, businesses, parks, golf courses, arts and fitness centers, movie sets, production studios, training centers, a university, an international airport, corporate headquarters and a prison. Military Shipyards are different from normal installations, so private companies have taken them over in Charleston and Philadelphia. Shipyards can also be used as a container port.

Leasing Companies do not need to wait for a base to close in order to repurpose a facility because they may be able to lease space. For example, a manufacturer leased space at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, in 1992, even though the base was not yet closed.

Classroom Discussion Questions:

1. Has a military installation closed near you and how has it been repurposed?
2. What good and bad effects does base closing have on the community?