Your Name (if you would like it to appear): Laura
Base Name: Fort Lee, Virginia
Base Location: Prince George County, Virginia
How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present) 2009-present
What is housing like? On-post? (waiting list, conditions, etc.) Off-post? Any areas to stay away from? Average price to rent or buy?
When we came here, our wait time for on-post housing was approx 2 years. We rented a place off-post in Chester which was $979/month. The good thing about this place (Chester Village Greene) is that it has a partnership with Fort Lee in that you can break your lease when on-post housing becomes available. I’d stick to Chester and Colonial Heights because Petersburg is beyond sketchy.
We were able to move on-post early because we agreed to move into housing that was soon to be demolished (built in the 1970s, run-down, etc) with the understanding that we would be given a newer house on-post before the demolition date. While the 1970s house was certainly old, it was sturdy and served us well. We just moved into the new housing. It’s clear that it was built hastily and as cheaply as possible. The doors and windows are not properly sealed so that freezing cold air is rushing in, there are roaches in the kitchen, the faucets leak, the tubs don’t drain, and it’s obvious which parts of the house were recycled from the houses that were torn down (toilets that don’t match and rattle when you sit on them….it’s great, as well as very worn bathtubs). We didn’t have ANY of these problems in the house that’s being torn down. We’re extremely annoyed and upset about the conditions of the new housing, especially since all Pinnacle (the private housing company which has taken over) has done is brag about how amazing the housing is. We’re calling in work orders for these issues–I’m just annoyed that we have to do it at all. The housing is only 2 years old!
Rate the PX & Commissary.
The PX and Commissary are pathetic. Very small selection, grungy looking, always crowded because of AIT soldiers. The prices at the PX are no cheaper than Walmart, so I suggest you just go there. The commissary IS cheap, but it’s just not great.
Activities on base?
Nothing is EVER going on. There is a bowling alley, but it’s always full of drunken AIT soldiers. There’s a movie theater, but it’s been under renovation since we arrived.
Active Spouses Club?
none that I know of. If there are any, they’re certainly not active.
Things to do in area?
Fort Lee is surrounded by strip malls and plastic restaurants. If you want any kind of culture or good food, you have to drive the half hour to Richmond.
School System?
Not sure–I don’t have kids. But I’ve heard it’s bad.
Any colleges in area?
University of Virginia.
Jobs? (on post and off)
Off-post consists of food service and retail.
Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?
None, I seriously hate it here.
Least favorite aspect?
Where do I begin. All I hear when my husband gets home is him talking about how the leaders in his unit care only about appearances and that there’s no job to do but everyone is forced to make it look like they’re busy rather than training or maintaining as one should in Garrison. The units on this post are a mix of so many different commands that no one seems to know what they really should be doing. The presence of TRADOC clearly influences the permanent party on the post. The politics and drama that goes on here is beyond ridiculous, and so many people coming from other posts are stunned by how poorly things are run. To quote one, “Don’t judge the Army based on your experience at Fort Lee…”
Local websites? (base, chamber, newspaper, schools, etc.)
lee.army.mil
Any other tips?
Don’t come here. If you do, leave as soon as you can.
I think she may have gone overboard about how bad it is there. I lived in prince george til i was 24 and fort lee was practicly down the road from my house. I’m not saying things on post are not bad because i never lived on post but the surrounding areas (except petersburg i agree with that) are not that bad that she makes it out to be. I rather move back to that area then being at fort huachuca az , i had more to do near fort lee then i do now.
I agree with you. I enjoy this area and I do live on post. There are many things to do around here its just taking the time to find what you want. Compared to Ft Riley Kansas this place is heaven. There are many wonderful resturants around here and I love having the ocean so close. If you love to travel this is the place for you D.C. is close and so many other wonderful places. To each their own though. You just have to find out if its for you but remember to keep an open mind and be positive. Having a negative attitude will make you miserable any place you go.
I happened across this post while looking for any experiences or reviews with Pinnacle Housing. We’re PCSing to Fort Lee (as permanent party – we’ve been there before for 6 months at a school) and I was interested in finding any reviews of the housing process.
I can’t disagree with the original poster more. We LOVED our time at Fort Lee and jumped at the chance to go back. There is SO much to do in the area – locally, or with a short drive. We were never bored and enjoyed being centrally located for so many day trips, vacation destinations, you name it. I thought the commissary was nice, not the biggest but fine for its size. The surrounding communities offer so many amenities, and there are parts of Petersburg that are lovely, charming and safe. Tons of stuff to do in the area, and many interesting restaurants within 20 minutes – one hour drive. We enjoyed all the historic sites and museums/cultural activities.
We are finishing 3 years at Fort Leonard Wood and while this has not been a bad post, we are thrilled to be headed back to Fort Lee. I haven’t lived in housing there so I can’t comment on that, but the rest of it? No way – Fort Lee is awesome!
I agree with this post…I visited for graduation for my fiance from A.I.T. and I hated it here..There was nothing to do on post or off post. It was no wonder how a.i.t students get in trouble u literally have to be drunk to live here…Nothing but trees, if your into nature thats all fine and dandy I hated it with a passion, and I can see why my fiancee is so miserable..Its so disorganized, I told my fiancee, please do not EVER EVER get stationed here again..I expected to have a lot more fun here, this was my first time traveling and ohhh how this place was just miserable…Never again….PX and BX were just pathetic..I work on Lackland AFB and I expected a little more from this place or just military bases in general…Nobody knew what was going on, one Sgt. would tell my fiancee no he couldnt leave the next said yes he couldve left a long time ago…I cant wait for him to leave this place..Now he’s just on hold over…Get it together Fort Lee….*sigh*