MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Atlantic Marine Corps Communities aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune built its 4,000th home for the Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River community recently. AMCC held a ribbon cutting to commemorate the milestone, welcoming a new family to the Knox Landing staff noncommissioned officer community.
The 4,000th home is the culmination of almost a decade of building new and renovating homes throughout the community, said Kathleen Murney, project director with AMCC.
The early phases of housing construction focused on the masses of junior ranks. Now the time has come for senior leaders to experience the new housing for themselves.
The home marks another milestone for the base’s military housing: the most homes SNCOs have ever had available aboard the base.
The home was built in an area that formerly held mobile homes. Now, the spot has been transformed into an enclave for SNCOs featuring a variety of parks and a waterfront boardwalk along with well-manicured lawns surrounding the spacious homes. While construction is still ongoing, the other communities recently constructed by AMCC give hint to great promise.
“When I first joined the Navy the houses weren’t near as nice as this is,” said 1st Class Petty Officer Tim Pancost, an electronic technician with Center for Security Forces Learning Site MCB Camp Lejeune, and the resident of the 4,000th home.
Pancost expects his youngest daughter will make good use of the playground while he’ll enjoy the boardwalk, where he can take strolls with his family.
“I like the area and the size of the house is nice,” Pancost added.
The area means more to SNCOs than just a house; the leaders get a place where they can unwind and have fun without worrying about running into their subordinates.
“You want to be able to come home and relax,” said Michael Lane, the director of Public Privatized Venture, Liaison Branch, and a retired SNCO.
Lane lived in the Tarawa Terrace area, which neighbors Knox Landing, during the 1970’s and finds everything to be a world away from the sights he knew as a resident.
“We’re nearing the end of our initial development period. We’re very proud to give SNCOs homes,” said Murney.
Ensuring quality housing with on-base security, Department of Defense schools, and a good community for military families to foster bonds is an important point of great pride to AMCC, added Murney.
The new area has homes available immediately to SNCOs. For more information call 450-1627.