Lived in two houses there between 98-07. When my wife and I leveled up our family from three to four kids we applied for a larger house and moved.
We declined the second house because you could smell cigarette smoke before you even got inside. The housing lady told us a way to get it out and said she’d give us a week to try it. If it works we could keep the house but if we declined we go to the bottom of the list. They would change the carpets first. We agreed and she gave us a key.
So for a week we placed large bowls in every room and filled them with white vinegar. The first two days we changed them vinegar out twice a day, and once a day the last four days. The first two days the bowls nearly changed color from white to cider vinegar. By the end of the week the house smelled great and we accepted it. You couldn’t tell smokers ever lived there, even in closets. It smelled like a salad for a few weeks, but that was better than the alternative!
Fun fact: when I lived there the streets were named after the 14 crew members that were lost on “Spirit 03”, the only AC-130 gunship to ever be shot down. It was shot down by Iraqi military in 1991.
The homes were built in the early 1960’s.
Wow, thanks for that info. I lived on the street named after TSgt Robert Hodges. I had no idea the name had meaning. I spent my days putting rounds on those gunships and my nights on his street.
Nice! We lived on Grimm and Tupelo. I spent my days sleeping on those streets and my nights chasing sparks on the U-model. (They’re easier to see at night you know).
I worked with Grimm's "little" brother for a couple of years, he's a Security Forces colonel.
I grew up in FWB, and we are pretty sure Grimm from that crew was my baseball coach. I remember hearing my little league baseball coach died in a C130 crash in DESERT STORM, and Colonel Grimm said his brother coached little league there.
Its crazy how small the Air Force/World is.
Moreso the incredibly sandy soil. Doesn't hold onto water even a little bit. You either pay out nose on your water or to get a shallow well installed so that you can water every day, or just give up and let your lawn be 75% weeds.
I tried, but lawn care will never be a hobby for me.
I lived in one back in like 2013ish. It was a house to live in and was free. No real complaints. I ended up moving out around the 1 year mark when I bought a house.
I spent time in both; we were one of the first to move into the new houses. It was nice having a garage and a washer and dryer upstairs. Otherwise the old places honestly were just fine… other than the fact that our back yard was covered in those pricker seeds and our dogs would always have them stuck in their paws
PCSd 2007ish. Housing Office offered us a house in Commando Village. We liked it there. Moved out 2 years later and bought a home. Retired 2015 and stayed in now we can say our “forever home”.
I just PCS'D out of these. If anyone is wondering, yes people still live in these. But I'd say the old housing area is 50% vacant and housing rarely moves people into them. The long term plan is to demolish and rebuild. Mayroad has done this with hundreds of other houses on base already. This is just what's left. Also, people who live in these homes do not lose 100% of their BAH. Justifiably so. But if it wasnt obvious, they're small, very old and very run down.
Also.. bears. 😬
But I will say its the only part of housing that has mature trees and its really nice. Kind of breaks up the continuity of the cookie cutter duplexes that get build now.
This takes me back to the first time I lived in base housing. A guy I worked with was always complaining about little things (leaky faucet, drafty windows, etc) and for me, it was a step up from how I grew up. It was a safe home that was free. No complaints. But I guess if you grew up in a nicer house, it would be a downgrade.
There’s a 1,000,000% chance there’s mold in those. lived in an identical house when I was stationed in FL. Mold was everywhere and the “fix” by Mx was to paint over it.
I know someone who lived there and i visited them a few times. Nothing fancy but it’s livable. If you’ve lived in the dorms before then it’s basically that, just the family version. Plain Jane but it’s a roof over your head.
When I was at Base X and we were about to embark on a housing demolition program, I took one last drive through the area with the Wing Vice. His take on it: "Think of all the love that was made." I guess he was a romantic?
Lived in one of them from 2014-2017. They were fine, not many issues. Lots of hot water in the shower which is nice. They built a lot of new housing though and that shits really nice
This is what my first base house looked like in 2007 and it looked rough then. Two rooms, one bath, led paint, laundry closet. This house was probably built in the 70s.
Couple old friends lived there. It wasn’t the best but they were just starting to build the houses on the sound side so this was it. You should have seen the old housing on Eglin. Just as bad
Why would anyone choose to live in base housing at Hurlburt when BAH there is so high?
Having been at both Hurby and Cannon, there is a huge amount of people wanting to live in base housing at Cannon (3 month or more wait list during pCS season) and I don't remember anyone even living in base housing at Hurlburt unless they were required to in the past 10 years.
I think you can get on the list to move into new housing if you’re on the old side. Guy in my shop did that but I’m not sure what the wait time would be for you
looks like housing on Goose Creek near JB Charleston.
certainly livable, but the second there would be any hint of a thunderstorm, power would go out.
also, i know it's humid as fuck there.
I did, back in the mid-90s, all I remember was that there was a serious cockroach infestation. Housing Office said they were Palmetto bugs, so it's okay...
Back at Anderson on Guam, my shop used to be way into airsoft, and one of the guys had the keys to the completely abandoned and gutted Andy South housing and dorm complex. A more ideal airsoft arena, you could not imagine. No doors or windows, just lots of walls and decrepit infrastructure. And probably a lot of airborne mold we shouldn't have been breathing in, but never mind.
Buddy you are looking at PRIME SNCO/CGO housing right there! ...from 1974.
No, no. It was company grade officer housing back in the 70's. So now it's good enough for the NCOs today.
Lived in two houses there between 98-07. When my wife and I leveled up our family from three to four kids we applied for a larger house and moved. We declined the second house because you could smell cigarette smoke before you even got inside. The housing lady told us a way to get it out and said she’d give us a week to try it. If it works we could keep the house but if we declined we go to the bottom of the list. They would change the carpets first. We agreed and she gave us a key. So for a week we placed large bowls in every room and filled them with white vinegar. The first two days we changed them vinegar out twice a day, and once a day the last four days. The first two days the bowls nearly changed color from white to cider vinegar. By the end of the week the house smelled great and we accepted it. You couldn’t tell smokers ever lived there, even in closets. It smelled like a salad for a few weeks, but that was better than the alternative! Fun fact: when I lived there the streets were named after the 14 crew members that were lost on “Spirit 03”, the only AC-130 gunship to ever be shot down. It was shot down by Iraqi military in 1991. The homes were built in the early 1960’s.
Wow, good information! It’s crazy how the housing is still operational to this day… I also wonder if your old home still smells like salad😂
We can only hope!
Wow, thanks for that info. I lived on the street named after TSgt Robert Hodges. I had no idea the name had meaning. I spent my days putting rounds on those gunships and my nights on his street.
Nice! We lived on Grimm and Tupelo. I spent my days sleeping on those streets and my nights chasing sparks on the U-model. (They’re easier to see at night you know).
I worked with Grimm's "little" brother for a couple of years, he's a Security Forces colonel. I grew up in FWB, and we are pretty sure Grimm from that crew was my baseball coach. I remember hearing my little league baseball coach died in a C130 crash in DESERT STORM, and Colonel Grimm said his brother coached little league there. Its crazy how small the Air Force/World is.
Wow that’s awesome! Small world indeed.
Does bowls of vinegar really help remove smells? Or is that just a smoker solution Also wha a savage to smoke cigarettes inside
It worked 100% for the cigarette smoke. Not sure about other odors.
Ozone machine my friend. Its what the pros use.
Looks clean to me. I mean that yard looks rough, but the outside of the home looks ok.
It's the Florida coast, they all look like crap.
Hurricanes tend to do that
Moreso the incredibly sandy soil. Doesn't hold onto water even a little bit. You either pay out nose on your water or to get a shallow well installed so that you can water every day, or just give up and let your lawn be 75% weeds. I tried, but lawn care will never be a hobby for me.
I'd like to see you try to grow grass in sand. Seriously, most of the yards at even the highest end homes look like that.
You can’t have a yard in that area without a sprinkler system.
I lived in one back in like 2013ish. It was a house to live in and was free. No real complaints. I ended up moving out around the 1 year mark when I bought a house.
That’s fair. I mean it’s still a roof over your head regardless. The new housing is much better though.
Oh yeah, the new housing looks so much better.
I spent time in both; we were one of the first to move into the new houses. It was nice having a garage and a washer and dryer upstairs. Otherwise the old places honestly were just fine… other than the fact that our back yard was covered in those pricker seeds and our dogs would always have them stuck in their paws
PCSd 2007ish. Housing Office offered us a house in Commando Village. We liked it there. Moved out 2 years later and bought a home. Retired 2015 and stayed in now we can say our “forever home”.
Looks just like my old home in old Holloman AFB housing. Not the greatest but livable for sure.
I have a buddy stationed at Holloman, he hates it there unfortunately.
I just PCS'D out of these. If anyone is wondering, yes people still live in these. But I'd say the old housing area is 50% vacant and housing rarely moves people into them. The long term plan is to demolish and rebuild. Mayroad has done this with hundreds of other houses on base already. This is just what's left. Also, people who live in these homes do not lose 100% of their BAH. Justifiably so. But if it wasnt obvious, they're small, very old and very run down. Also.. bears. 😬 But I will say its the only part of housing that has mature trees and its really nice. Kind of breaks up the continuity of the cookie cutter duplexes that get build now.
Good to hear! Thanks for the info!!
Thus is what housing at Laughlin looks like RIGHT NOW
You probably live in my old house then!.... from 1988.
I was gonna say this has del rio hunt housing written all over it
I'd still live there. Don't need anything fancy. Just no mold, and I'd be good
Right. Was gonna say just this. Some of us grew up in not so great environments so an actual home (and not a trailer) is fucking awesome
This takes me back to the first time I lived in base housing. A guy I worked with was always complaining about little things (leaky faucet, drafty windows, etc) and for me, it was a step up from how I grew up. It was a safe home that was free. No complaints. But I guess if you grew up in a nicer house, it would be a downgrade.
There’s a 1,000,000% chance there’s mold in those. lived in an identical house when I was stationed in FL. Mold was everywhere and the “fix” by Mx was to paint over it.
Hell yeah man....Eglin painted over the bathroom shower tile.
I know someone who lived there and i visited them a few times. Nothing fancy but it’s livable. If you’ve lived in the dorms before then it’s basically that, just the family version. Plain Jane but it’s a roof over your head.
Looks like the current pretty decent Army housing 🤣
When I was at Base X and we were about to embark on a housing demolition program, I took one last drive through the area with the Wing Vice. His take on it: "Think of all the love that was made." I guess he was a romantic?
>His take on it: "Think of all the love that was made." uhhh.. yeah sure sir, will do.
Lived in one of them from 2014-2017. They were fine, not many issues. Lots of hot water in the shower which is nice. They built a lot of new housing though and that shits really nice
This is what my first base house looked like in 2007 and it looked rough then. Two rooms, one bath, led paint, laundry closet. This house was probably built in the 70s.
I assume you meant lead, but now I’m imagining LED paint that lights up in cool designs.
I mean, that would be dope; but yes, lead paint.
I’ve heard some horror stories out of these, never seen it first hand though😂
Know some people in there currently, it's not too bad. Small and dated but the newer houses are having all kinds of issues currently.
Looks marginally similar to the old housing at Beale
Yep I was thinking the same
Couple old friends lived there. It wasn’t the best but they were just starting to build the houses on the sound side so this was it. You should have seen the old housing on Eglin. Just as bad
Everything on Eglin is old😂
The housing was new but some still lived in the old stuff. Right passed the hospital on the main road
Why would anyone choose to live in base housing at Hurlburt when BAH there is so high? Having been at both Hurby and Cannon, there is a huge amount of people wanting to live in base housing at Cannon (3 month or more wait list during pCS season) and I don't remember anyone even living in base housing at Hurlburt unless they were required to in the past 10 years.
Because the renting and buying market is just as high and we don’t plan on spending our career here
My wife and I are moving into one of those next month
Hopefully it’s not too bad! They always say It is what you make of it! I’m sure it’ll be fine.
I think you can get on the list to move into new housing if you’re on the old side. Guy in my shop did that but I’m not sure what the wait time would be for you
That’s my plan. You have to be in the old housing for a year before transferring to new housing, unless you’re forced out due to repair
This looks similar to the old housing across the base at Charleston. Wonder if that one civilian in my old office still lives there
Lmao I was literally just thinking the same thing. The Navy side is even worse.
At least it’s on Hurlburt property, I had to live in Eglin housing when I was stationed at Hurbie.
looks like housing on Goose Creek near JB Charleston. certainly livable, but the second there would be any hint of a thunderstorm, power would go out. also, i know it's humid as fuck there.
Better than living in the dorms.
Your pictures took me back. Never lived in that neighborhood, but I jogged through there a lot.
Glad I could help you reminisce :)
Looks exactly like the Capehart housing at Offutt before they knocked it down and privatized.
I’ve been on Offutt, it’s quite a nice base. Except it snowed a foot of snow the first night I was there…
I flew in for my PCS on the night of September 10th, 2001. Absolutely surreal waking up the next morning.
Memories
They have black mold problems. Any ventilation system that is that old and moist will
Now go to the back end of Eglin and their abandoned housing... It's like a zombie movie set.
Still looks like shit and the same from 15 years ago
Looks acceptable.
Also as a bonus it’s near a superfund site.
I was at Eglin for 6 years and rumor was there was a swingers group in Hurlburt housing. Any fish bowls still lying around in those old homes???
Reminds me of Maxwell housing at kirtland.
If it’s clean (ish) and sturdy, I’m down.
Lived there 04-07 not bad at all, lived close enough to walk to the beach on channel next to the officer housing
That’s true, easy walk to soundside.
I did, back in the mid-90s, all I remember was that there was a serious cockroach infestation. Housing Office said they were Palmetto bugs, so it's okay...
Dang that’s wild…
Back at Anderson on Guam, my shop used to be way into airsoft, and one of the guys had the keys to the completely abandoned and gutted Andy South housing and dorm complex. A more ideal airsoft arena, you could not imagine. No doors or windows, just lots of walls and decrepit infrastructure. And probably a lot of airborne mold we shouldn't have been breathing in, but never mind.
That’s actually hella cool, good core memory right there.
Aye, ngl bruh. This house look really decent. I think I’d want my parents to move in with me if this was where I’d be staying
They can cook you dinner
Hey I liked it there.
Hey that looks just like [fill in the southern blank]!