LAKE STEVENS — Juan Smith, 15, is turning out for football at Lake Stevens High School. His little sister Kavonna, 10, can’t wait to settle into her new bedroom and make friends at Mount Pilchuck Elementary.
On Wednesday, the Smith family got the keys to the home where they plan to live for the next few years. It’s located at Constitution Park, a new military housing neighborhood in east Lake Stevens.
Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Susan Smith serves on the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, based in Seattle. She and her husband Arthur and their children, including their oldest daughter, Shajuana, 18, will join other Coast Guard families and Naval Station Everett families next week as they move into the neighborhood.
Navy Region Northwest and Forest City Military Communities have a public-private partnership and plan to complete a 141-home project in Lake Stevens for military families. On Wednesday, the first 68 houses were opened up for a visit by local officials, Navy brass, families and many who worked on the project.
Coast Guard officer Smith, 40, has served in the military for nearly 20 years in Missouri, Virginia, California and New Jersey. Constitution Park is the best military housing she’s ever seen. Her monthly housing allowance will be spent on rent for the home, paid to Forest City, a Cleveland-based real estate corporation.
Smith was working at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., until just a few weeks ago. She and her family are eager to move in and become part of the community, she said.
Forest City hopes to finish another 37 homes by the end of October. Most of the families moving in next week have children in school, company president Tom Henneberry said.
Rear Adm. James Symonds of Navy Region Northwest said the housing is a boost to morale for Navy families.
“Everett is one of the places the Pacific Fleet commander has his eye on everyday,” Symonds said. “The fact that military families are being taken care of is of critical importance when our Navy boats sail over the horizon. Family happiness has a profound effect on the mental and physical performance of those who serve our nation. This quality housing helps our families survive through long periods of separation.”
Columns made from river rock surround the Smith family’s porch and garage on the new tree-lined street. A parlor, laundry room, powder room, family room and spacious kitchen are downstairs, and four bedrooms and two bathrooms are located upstairs.
Down the street, the neighborhood will have a community center, basketball courts, playgrounds and walking trails.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Smith said as she walked through the new house. “Three toilets! I can’t believe it.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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