Your Name (if you would like it to appear): Jill
Base Name: Fort Richardson
Base Location: Alaska
How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present)
2008-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?
We live on post. The waiting list wasn’t long at all, actually we got our house the next day. The walls are really thin, but the home was old but really nice. It had new carpet, new dishwasher, fresh paint, etc… We have a really big basement, large bathroom, and 2 very large bedrooms. They are building new housing and they are suppose to tear down these since they are very very old. The parking kinda sucks. You have one parking spot in our housing that is assigned and there is 2 extra ones for 8 homes which is first come first serve. Off post it can get pretty pricey. Average rent is 800-3000 depending on what you get. One of our friends got an apartment and was paying 900 a month, and there wasn’t enough room to turn in it, it was a 1 bed 1 bath, and i kept my shoes on. There was garbage in the hall ways in the building too. No real places to stay away from that I know of. Just be careful going into the woods because of bears and other wildlife.
Rate the PX & Commissary.
I like them both. The commissary can be crazy crowded on payday so I go a few days before so I can beat the rush. The prices are ALOT better than going off post!!! PX-7, BX-8
Activities on base?
There is skiing, a bowling ally, a very big fitness center with indoor pool, and several parks. I am sure there is more, but we haven’t gotten to explore the entire post and what it has to offer yet.
Active Spouses Club?
My neighbor is very involved in the FRG and loves it, but i do not participate in it so i really couldn’t say with first hand experience.
Things to do in area?
TONS of stuff. Parks, several malls, different kinds of shopping, theaters, touristy type of stuff too (train rides, day cruises)
School System?
Don’t have kids
Any colleges in area?
University of Alaska is the main one, but I am attending Central Texas College with the help of the ed center.
Jobs? (on post and off)
Since there are so many shops and things to do in town, there are a ton of jobs in anchorage to grab. There are several people I know that work at the PX on post and seem to like it but I don’t know the salary range for on post but minimum wage here is around 7 an hour. Most jobs start out at 10+ easily.
Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?
So many things to do here and it is really beautiful.
Least favorite aspect?
Thin walls in the housing and the cold temp’s. It got down to -20’s this past winter.
Any other tips?
Be sure to keep your camera handy, there are moose running around everywhere. Dress warm. Make friends with your neighbors because they can make your life miserable if they want to.