Here's why 300 homes are sitting empty next to Travis Air Force Base in California

>> J.R., THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> PART OF OUR EFFORT TO BUILD A BETTER BAY AREA INCLUDES FOCUSING ON THE ECONOMY AND HOUSING CRISIS. IN FAIRFIELD THERE ARE 300 HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING EMPTY FOR A DECADE NOW. A DEVELOPER HAS A PLAN TO RENOVATE THEM AND TURN THEM INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, SO WHY ARE THEY HITTING SO MANY ROAD BLOCKS ALL THIS TIME? LIZ IS HERE WITH THE STORY. A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. >> DAN, THIS IS A REALLY FASCINATING STORY. THESE ARE HOMES THAT WERE INITIALLY BUILT IN THE EARLY '90s FOR AIR MEN AND WOMEN WORKING ON TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE. IN 2010, THESE FAMILIES MOVED INTO HOMES ON THE BASE AND THESE HOMES HAVE BEEN SITTING EMPTY. THERE IS FINALLY A PLAN TO SET THEM LOOSE, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF RED TAPE. THIS PROPERTY IN FAIRFIELD SEEMS LIKE A GOLD MINE. IT HAS LOTS OF SPACE, A PLAYGROUND, BASKETBALL COURTS THAT'S BEEN SITTING EMPTY FOR NEARLY A DECADE. >> IT'S REALLY CRAZY YOU'VE GOT THESE ASSETS SITTING THERE, THESE HOMES SITTING THERE NOT BEING UTILIZED, AND OVER THE PAST DECADE THE HOUSING CRISIS IN THIS PART OF CALIFORNIA HAS JUST GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE. >> Reporter: A PROPERTY BUILDER HAS COMMITTED TO REMODELING THESE. BUT ADVOCATES CAN'T GET THE GREEN LIGHT. THEY SAY IT'S AT LEAST IN PART BECAUSE OF THEIR NEIGHBOR. >> THIS TIME THE NEIGHBOR HAPPENS TO BE THE U.S. AIR FORCE. >> Reporter: TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE CONTROLS THE WATER FOR THE AREA, AND THEY'RE REFUSING TO TURN IT ON. >> THE PIPE THAT WE NEED THEM TO TURN ON THAT BRINGS THE WATER TO GEORGETOWN, WE BUILT AND GAVE TO THEM BACK IN 1989. >> Reporter: THIS PROPERTY IS LITERALLY RIGHT NEXT TO TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE. IN FACT, THOSE HOMES ARE ON THE BASE. IT IS JUST THIS FENCE THAT DIVIDES THE TWO PROPERTIES. HUNT SAYS IF SECURITY IS AN ISSUE, THEY'LL EVEN PAY TO BUILD AND FORTIFY A SAFER WALL BETWEEN THE PROPERTIES. BUT STILL NO LUCK. WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY OF FAIRFIELD. THEY ARE ALSO NOT SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. THE CITY HAS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT BEING IN A FOOD DESERT AND FAR FROM A SCHOOL BUS STOP. THEY ALSO POINT OUT THE ONLY ACCESS ROAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT CROSSES A RAILROAD FREIGHT LINE WHICH COULD LEAD TO INADEQUATE PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE TIMES. >> HOW DO WE GET TO YES? >> Reporter: ASSEMBLY MEMBER GEORGE FRASIER IS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRODUCT. HE SAYS WHILE THOSE CONCERNS ARE VALID, THE CITY COULD LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS TO THEM. >> THIS IS A GOLD MINE WRAPPED UP INTO ONE. IT'S A CHANCE TO PUT FAMILIES INTO SHELTER. >> OBVIOUSLY THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FROM THE BASE IS MASSIVE. THE CITY, WE THINK, JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO UPSET THE BASE. >> Reporter: RIGHT NOW HOUSING ADVOCATES SAY THEY ARE STUMPED AND SIMPLY FRUSTRATED BY THE RED TAPE. >> THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 150 HOMELESS VETERANS IN THIS COUNTY. I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO DO THE MATH TO SHOW HOW MUCH OF A DENT 40 UNITS FOR THESE FAMILIES WOULD MAKE. >> IT'S A SHAME IF WE JUST ABANDON THEM AND LET THEM ROT. THEY'RE GOOD HOMES. THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO THEM. >> WE DID GET A STATEMENT FROM TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE. IT SAYS IN PART THE GEORGETOWN HOUSING AREA LIES WITHIN THE CITY OF FAIRFIELD, AND THE INSTALLATION RESPECTS THE DAY'S AUTONOMY TO MAKE THE DECISION ON HOW TO PERMIT AND DEVELOP ITS OWN LAND. MOREOVER, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DOES NOT ROUTINELY PROVIDE UTILITY SERVICES, SUCH AS WATER, SEWAGE OR ELECTRICITY, TO PRIVATE, OFF-BASE ENTITIES NOR NON-U.S. GOVERNMENT AFFILIATED VENTURES. DAN? >> IT'S INTERESTING THE RESPONSE FROM THE BASE. THEY'RE SAYING THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR THIS. WHAT DOES THE DEVELOPER SAY ABOUT THAT? >> THEY TOTALLY DISAGREE AND THEY'VE SHOWED GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES, AND WE SHOWED THAT THEY PROVIDE WATER TO LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. IT COULD BE THE BASE JUST DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE LIVIN

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 338,746

Keywords: news, homes near travis air force base, affordable housing solano county, houses in Fairfield, Georgetown project, nimby, homes for rent near travis afb, travis air force base, homes next to travis afb, affordable housing bay area, bay area, california, housing, solano county housing, ca housing

Id: uOhuwUmDb4E

Length: 4min 23sec (263 seconds)

Published: Thu Dec 24 2020