The Building Utilization Review and Repurposing (BURR) initiative is a VA strategic effort to identify and repurpose underutilized VA land and buildings nationwide in support of VA’s goal to end Veteran homelessness.  The BURR initiative is assessing existing real estate assets with the potential to develop new housing opportunities for homeless or Veterans and their families at-risk for homelessness through public-private partnerships and VA’s enhanced-use lease (EUL) program.

The Secretary announced VA’s plan to expand housing for homeless Veterans and their families in a press release on June 8, 2011.  An Industry Forum was held on July 13, 2011, to provide an overview of the BURR initiative and you may access the recorded webcast recording, presentation, attendee list, and Frequently Asked Questions.  We will be providing the BURR property listings with associated Project Details as they are released and you may access them by selecting the site on the map or in the list below.  To stay current on these projects, subscribe to our RSS feed for updates.

Augusta, GA Battle Creek, MI Bay Pines/Orlando, FL Bedford, MA Big Spring, TX Brockton, MA Castle Point, NY Cheyenne, WY Chillicothe, OH Danville, IL Dayton, OH Dublin, GA Fort Harrison, MT Fort Wayne, IN Grand Island, NE Hines, IL Kerrville, TX Leavenworth, KS Long Beach, CA Marion, IL Marion, IN Martinsburg, WV Menlo Park, CA Minneapolis, MN N. Chicago, IL Newington, CT Northampton, MA Perry Point, MD Salem, VA Spokane, WA St. Cloud, MN Togus, ME Topeka, KS Tuskegee, AL Vancouver, WA Walla Walla, WA

VA’s EUL authority was enacted in 1991 and codified in §§ 8161 thru 8169 of title 38, United States Code.  This authority allows VA to lease land or buildings to public, private and/or non-profit partners for up to 75 years, provided the use of the property is consistent with VA’s mission.  Leased property may be developed for non-VA uses, and/or VA uses that improve the property.

VA’s EUL authority allows VA to match supply (available buildings and land) and demand among Veterans for housing with third-party development, financing, and supportive services.  This approach has multiple benefits:  helping provide housing opportunities to Veterans while leveraging an underutilized asset, reducing the inventory of underutilized real estate, and transferring the operation and maintenance costs to a developer.  Housing types that may be considered include:  Transitional Housing, Permanent Housing, Assisted Living Housing, Non-Senior Assisted Living Housing, Independent Senior Housing, and/or a retail/office commercial space to help support the viability of one of the housing types.  More than one type of housing may be acceptable.