Housing opens for single enlisted sailors

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Housing opens for single enlisted sailors
Staff report
Posted : Friday Nov 14, 2008 17:42:05 EST

NORFOLK, Va.—Housing for some of the Navy’s youngest sailors opened here Friday, allowing the unwinding of a tradition where a ship in port is still a sailor’s home.

Under the Homeport Ashore Initiative, the Navy has teamed up with civilian developers to build housing in fleet concentration areas.

The Norfolk project, which is located off Terminal Boulevard, consists of 120 apartments for sailors ranked E-1 through E-3 as well as unmarried E-4s. The development includes a swimming pool, gym, lounge and recreation area.

Each two-bedroom suite has separate bathrooms but a common kitchen. The apartments are equipped with pots and pans, linens, cable television and Internet access.

According to Jim Brantley, a spokesman for Navy Facilities Engineering Command, a sailor can apply for the housing through his or her command and use it as long as they are with that command. He said the sailor gives up their basic allowance for housing to live in the units.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_housing_111408w/%2e