Overview
The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) is planning for the redevelopment of portions of its campus in Washington, D.C. (AFRH-W). AFRH-W is one of the oldest veterans' retirement homes in America and was established in 1851 as a result of the petitioning and financial support of General Winfield Scott. It continues to serve that function today with more than 1,200 retired military enlisted personnel in residence.
The Home was created as an ``asylum'' for old and disabled soldiers and sailors before the Civil War in an early first effort to provide care and comfort to those who put their lives on the line protecting the nation. Today its residents, including hundreds of evacuees displaced from the Gulfport, Mississippi facility by Hurricane Katrina, call it home. These veterans have served in every American war from World War II to Desert Storm. By developing the underutilized property on its campus, the Home will achieve long term economic independence, remain in existence as a peaceful green oasis in the heart of Washington, and fulfill a national commitment to care for America's military heroes.
The Home is an independent federal agency dependent upon a Trust Fund, rather than annual appropriations, to finance its operations. The Trust Fund was created with war booty from The Mexican War in the 19th century. Today the Fund relies upon a 50 cent per pay period deduction from active duty military, military fines and forfeitures, resident fees, and interest from the Trust Fund. The Fund is limited by law to investments in U.S. Treasury securities.
For the past 155 years, the AFRH has financed its operations through its trust fund. To supplement the trust fund and ensure the financial stability of AFRH for future generations of retired military personnel, Congress provided AFRH with the authority to sell or lease real estate in the Fiscal Year 2002 National Defense Authorization Act. AFRH intends to take advantage of that authority and leverage the value of its real estate by offering portions of AFRH-W for development, thereby increasing revenue to the Trust Fund, and allowing AFRH to build the facilities it needs for the future.
Final Master Plan
AFRH has completed a Master Plan for its Washington Campus to leverage its real estate assets, which will be the basis for facilitating and directing future development by the private sector and AFRH. Private development on the site will create an independent revenue stream for the Home.
NCPC Commission Action
The AFRH Master Plan was approved by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) on July 10, 2008. This approval allows AFRH to begin planning implementation of its Master Plan. AFRH is currently engaged in working to implement its Master Plan.