Field Guide to Military Base Closings
(Updated January 2008)
Military base closings in the '90's were often met with great opposition. But base closings in the 2000's seem to viewed as golden opportunities by many in the real estate industry and by the local communities surrounding them. (C. Dodge, Information Specialist)
Contents:
How Does a Base Closing Impact a Community? | Real Estate Opportunities, and Tips for Buying Land on Closing Bases | Potential Dangers on Former Military Base Land | Useful Websites | Books, eBooks & Other Resources
Top Ten States With the Most Base Realignment and Closures for 2005 
Texas, 16
Pennsylvania, 13
California, 12
Alabama, 11
New York, 9
Ohio, 9
Georgia, 7
Indiana, 7
Missouri, 7
Oklahoma, 6
Source: BRAC 2005 Closure and realignment impacts by state, (Business Executives for National Security.org).
How Does a Base Closing Impact a Community?
Savings in base closings continuing to dwindle, (NewsOK.com, Dec. 13, 2007). Q
Fighting for survival, (WSJ.com, June 11, 2007). Q
Being all they can be, (National Real Estate Investor, Aug. 2006). Q
Old bases bring new jobs to local communities, (Realty Times, Nov. 3, 2005).
Some bases benefit from closing notice, (FOX NEWS, June 24, 2005).
U. S. base closings may present challenges, windfalls for REITs, (Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2005). Q
United States: goodbye guns, hello golf; Base closures, (The Economist, May 21, 2005). Q
Military base closure: socioeconomic impacts, (CRS Report for Congress, May 18, 2005).
Base closings can benefit communities, (The San Diego Union Tribune, Mar. 24, 2004).
Colorado cities capitalize on base closings, (The American City & County, Mar. 2000).
Real Estate Opportunities and Tips for Buying Land on Closing Bases
Former military bases: A renaissance of economic renewal, (Business Facilities, June, 2006). Q
Army/Navy Specials; Once Spurned by Developers, Shut-Down Military Bases Are Now Sought-After Sites, (Wall Street Journal, Oct. 26, 2005). Q
Land windfall, (REALTOR® Magazine, Oct. 2005).
Tips for a smooth base conversion, (Journal of Property Management, Mar./Apr. 2004). Q
Buying closing military bases, (West, 2004).
Affordable housing opportunities in military base reuse, (Real Estate Finance, Oct. 2003). Q
The drill on military base conversion, (National Real Estate Investor, July 2003). Q
Acquiring property at a former military base: The process and the law, (Real Estate Issues, Apr. 1994).
Potential Dangers on Former Military Base Land
Unexploded Ordnance: Hidded Danger on Military Bases, (Rand Corporation).
Commentary, UXOs at closing U.S. bases, (United Press International, Aug. 1, 2005).
A redevelopment Rubik's Cube, (National Real Estate Investor, July 2005). Q
Air Force hunts for radioactive waste buried at old bases, (Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2003).Q
Insurance aids military base cleanups, (National Underwriter, Feb. 21, 2000). Q
Useful Websites
Primer: Understanding Military Base Realignment and Closure, (ABC News). - Facts and figures about what it all means.
Military Real Estate Primer, (Harry H. Kelso, Attorney and Environmental Consultant). - Site includes lists of recent base closures, types of military real estate, and formerly used defense sites.
BRAC 2005 Closure and Realignment Impacts by State, (Business Executives for National Security). - State by state list of base closures.
Community planning and development, (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). - Brief explanation of the The Redevelopment Act.
eBooks & Other Resources
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Military base closures: a reference handbook, (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2007). HC 79 So6
Military base closures, (Chicago, IL : Novinka Books, 2003). HC 79 L81
Life after defense: conversion and economic adjustment on Long Island, (Picsataway, NJ : Rutgers University. Center for Urban Policy Research, 1994). HC 79r
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