By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Dec. 10, 2025) — A groundbreaking in Fort Leonard Wood’s Woodlands Housing Area Dec. 10 marks the official beginning of construction on 56 new homes.
During his remarks, Col. Alexander Lovasz, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood deputy commanding officer, said the groundbreaking was about more than construction, it was about quality of life.
“Fort Leonard Wood is built on the foundation of readiness and readiness begins at home,” Lovasz said. “This new family housing development is a direct investment in the people who make this installation mission-ready every day.”
According to officials with Fort Leonard Wood’s on-post family housing partner, Balfour Beatty Communities, the 28 duplex units are part of a $50 million construction effort that includes demolition of former housing, extensive site work and infrastructure upgrades to support the new homes.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the service members and families that call Fort Leonard Wood their home. Your dedication inspires everything that we do,” said Shawna Swanson, Balfour Beatty Communities Operations vice president.
She added that the new homes were designed with today’s military families in mind.
“They include modern layouts, energy efficient features and will also have three Americans with Disability Act-compliant homes to ensure accessibility,” Swanson said.
The new homes will be located on Cable Street, which is located near the Woodlands Community Center, an elementary school and neighborhood playgrounds.
“We look forward to celebrating again when these homes open their doors to the service members and families who deserve them,” Lovasz said.
B-roll from the groundbreaking ceremony can be found at https://www.dvidshub.net/video/989658/fort-leonard-wood-breaks-ground-56-new-homes.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.