VA to Enter into Enhanced-Use Lease for Soldiers Home Chapel and Chaplain's Quarters in Milwaukee

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to enter into an Enhanced-Use Lease (EUL) for the 1889 Soldiers Home Chapel (Building #12), the 1901 Chaplain's Quarters (Building #16), and surrounding land at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The selected Lessee will finance, design, develop, construct, manage, and operate the historic buildings, with a focus on providing services to homeless Veterans. In exchange for the lease, the Lessee will restore the chapel and rehabilitate the quarters, offering counseling services, and priority access to Veterans for funerals, weddings, and community events.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EUL will cover the 1889 Soldiers Home Chapel, the 1901 Chaplain's Quarters, and approximately 2.5 acres of surrounding land at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
  • The Lessee will be responsible for financing, designing, developing, constructing, managing, and operating the buildings, with a focus on serving homeless Veterans.
  • As consideration for the lease, the Lessee must restore the Soldiers Home Chapel and rehabilitate the Chaplain's Quarters.
  • The Lessee will provide referral counseling services for homeless Veterans and set aside a room in the chapel for counseling and outreach services.
  • The Lessee will prioritize access to the facilities for Veterans and their families for funerals, weddings, wedding renewals, multi-denominational events, and community presentations.
  • The project meets the requirement of Title 38 U.S.C. 8161 et seq., which states that the Secretary may enter into an EUL if it results in a demonstrable improvement of services to eligible Veterans in the geographic area.
  • Edward Bradley, representatives from the Office of Asset Enterprise Management, can provide further information at (202) 461-7778.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 2.5 acres of land will be included in the EUL.
  • The Soldiers Home Chapel is a historic building originally constructed in 1889.
  • The Chaplain's Quarters was built in 1901.
  • The VA plans to use the EUL to improve services to eligible Veterans in the Milwaukee area.
  • The project aims to provide priority access to services and facilities for homeless Veterans and their families.
  • The Lessee will be responsible for financing and operating the buildings, as well as restoring the chapel and rehabilitating the quarters.

Sources:

  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Title 38 U.S.C. 8161 et seq.
  • VA press release (no specific date mentioned)