Home News ACHP Approves Streamlined Approach for Army Management of Historic Cold War Era Housing

For more information, contact Don Klima, (202) 606-8503, dklima@achp.gov, or
David Berwick, (202) 606-8503, dberwick@achp.gov

May 31, 2002, Washington, DC—The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) today approved the Army's use of a streamlined approach to manage its historic Cold War era housing.

The streamlining, achieved through an ACHP program comment, allows the Army to consider the treatment of certain historic properties on an Army-wide basis instead of case by case. In light of the Army's current plan to upgrade much of its housing, this initiative is estimated to save more than $5.5 million.

"ACHP has been committed to working with the Army to reduce compliance costs for this historic housing," said ACHP Chairman John L. Nau III.

ACHP Chairman Nau (seated) signs program comments put forth by the Army for management of its Capehart and Wherry Era housing. Standing from left to right is Philip W. Grone, ACHP member designee for Department of Defense; Col. Richard A. Hoefert, Director of Environmental Programs, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management; and Raymond J. Fatz, Army Federal Historic Preservation Officer
(staff photo)

The program comment pertains to Army housing from the 1950s and 1960s, an era of construction that provided soldiers with inexpensive housing. Named after the senators who initiated that effort, Capehart and Wherry Era housing represents 54 percent of current Army housing. Army installations with the most Capehart and Wherry Era housing are Ft. Huachuca, AZ; the Presidio of Monterey, CA; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Ft. Bragg, NC; Ft. Hood and Ft. Bliss, TX; Ft. Lewis, WA.

The program comment allows the Army to proceed with its housing upgrades while requiring that the agency manage its Capehart and Wherry Era housing in a manner that recognizes the importance of this period in the Army's history, documents the Army's housing projects, and provides guidelines for preserving the historic character of Capehart and Wherry neighborhoods. The Department of Defense hopes to use this streamlined approach as a model for similar situations.

ACHP, an independent Federal agency, serves as primary policy advisor to the President and Congress on historic preservation matters and oversees an administrative review process that requires Federal agencies to consider historic properties when planning projects. ACHP is headquartered in Washington, DC., with an office in Denver, Colorado.

Download Program Comment (in PDF)
Read more about Capehart and Wherry Era housing
Read more about ACHP

Updated July 29, 2002

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