Louisville District builds new homes at Rock Island

Project Engineer explains the importance of the reinforced metal between the studs during a site tour.

Louisville District Project Engineer Gerald Zerphey, far left, explains the importance of the reinforced metal between the studs during a site tour for the district’s visiting cadets. Each home is equipped with a safe room to help protect residents during bad weather.

Fifteen duplexes will replace the original family housing townhomes. Five different models will be constructed, each with a two-car garage and three to four bedrooms. The community includes a bus stop, playground, basketball court and walking trails.

Fifteen duplexes will replace the original family housing townhomes. Five different models will be constructed, each with a two-car garage and three to four bedrooms. The community includes a bus stop, playground, basketball court and walking trails.

Sunlight pours through the large picture windows as a boat glides along the Mississippi River. Pelicans bob in the water and a light breeze floats through the house. This isn’t a vacation home with a fantastic view. Soon military families assigned to Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, will be able to enjoy these views in their new homes built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District.

Thirty-three new single-family homes are currently under construction along the Mississippi River between the Col. Davenport House and Quarters One. Construction on the subdivision’s 21 three-bedroom and 12 four-bedroom homes started Dec. 1, 2016, and is expected to near completion by spring of next year, said Donald Peterson, resident engineer for the Louisville District. The $22.8 million contract includes new underground utilities for the site, new streets, a walking trail, playground, bus stop and basketball court.

On the other side of the island, new homes are replacing the older family housing units from the 1960s. The family housing townhomes, located on Rodman Ave. near the Moline gate, were torn down last year and will be replaced with 15 duplexes and eight single-family homes. Construction on the 10 three-bedroom and 28 four-bedroom homes is expected to be completed by summer of next year. The $23.3 million contract includes bus stops, playgrounds, walking trails and a basketball court. 

All the homes will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified. This certification is a contract requirement, Peterson said, and is also mandated by the Department of the Army. 

“The LEED standards include a multitude of items, the most important of which, in my opinion, is energy efficiency,” he said.

All of the homes are made of wood frame construction with fiber cement board siding, brick veneer and vinyl windows. Every home has one room with reinforced walls that acts as a storm shelter. The square footage ranges from 1,630 to 2,510. Depending on the model, the flooring includes vinyl, porcelain and carpet. The kitchen comes with built-in appliances and quartz countertops. 

“There are eight different types of single-family homes and five different types of duplexes being built,” Peterson said, adding that all homes will have a two-car garage. “There are various color schemes and finishes being used so they will not all be the same.”

Currently, the Louisville District has nine employees working at their Rock Island Resident Office managing the contract changes, communication, schedule management and coordination, Peterson said. 

The most rewarding part of the project, he said, is “seeing new housing being constructed that our soldiers and families can eventually consider as home.”