Fort Leavenworth Begins Building On-Base Housing for First Time Since 1959

The new development features 48 townhomes meant to replace outdated legacy housing at the military installation.

It's been 66 years but brand new affordable on-base housing is coming to Fort Leavenworth.

Fort Leavenworth, located within Leavenworth County, Kan., is home to some of the oldest military housing in the nation and is located within a National Historic Landmark District. Existing housing options range from 10,000-square-foot officer manors to historic duplexes, many of which require major multi-million dollar renovations.

The new $31 million development will be known as "New Kansa"—an entire neighborhood of new townhomes built from the ground up for military families at the base to live where their soldier serves. The site, built in 1827, is the oldest continuously operating military installation west of the Mississippi River and the second-oldest active U.S. Army post west of Washington D.C.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, and will include a host of dignitaries and military officials to kickstart the construction efforts. Work at the site is slated to be completed by December 2027.

A U.S. Army press release states that the new neighborhood will feature 48 new townhomes that are being developed to replace outdated legacy housing first built in 1959, offering "upscale living in a vibrant, modern, family-friendly neighborhood."

Layouts include four-bedroom and 2.5-bathroom floor plans featuring fenced-in backyards, private patios, and energy-efficient designs.

Frontier Heritage Communities is the exclusive operator of on-base housing at Fort Leavenworth.

The New Kansa development will be managed by The Michaels Organization, a national developer, owner and operator of public and private properties. On its website, the organization touts the live-work convenience military families will be able to enjoy.

"Our mission is to enable those who contribute so much to our communities to also live within them," a statement from the organization reads. "This means that teachers teach where they inspire, nurses care where they heal, and first responders safeguard the

neighborhoods they call home."

Comparable rentals off-base range on average from $1,300 to $1,850 per month but up to $2,600 per month depending on the features, according to the real estate website Zillow.

"My family moved here for the first time in 2003," Katie Payne, a licensed real estate agent in the region, told Military.com. "We fell in love with the military community, the Midwest nice people, and the small town that's close to the city."

The military spouse-turned-real estate agent actively helps military families find housing in the Fort Leavenworth area.

"Moving to Fort Leavenworth in 2026 looks a little different than it did even two years ago," Payne said. "As a military spouse, it's my mission to help families just like mine make a smooth transition to the area. I love sharing what makes this place so special."

Payne is familiar with both the New Kansa development that will soon be under construction, in addition to existing homes that have been around for years. Payne said that anything that's new is in demand on the military base.

"You have on-post housing, which is managed by Frontier Heritage. It's convenient but fills up fast," Payne said. "Families with children love the on-post elementary and middle schools. They generally place students in the same neighborhoods."

New Development Designed for Military Families

The development is described as a project with military families in mind, according to Fort Leavenworth U.S. Army Base's Facebook page.

"The groundbreaking is an important step toward expanding quality housing options on Fort Leavenworth and enhancing the quality of life for service members and families," one post reads. "When complete, the New Kansa housing area will provide 9 town home units serving 48 future families."

While Payne's real estate practice will not directly handle the New Kansa rentals, she is available as a resource for military families who want to compare on-base versus off-base housing options—as well as renting versus buying a home.

"Typical of the area, rental prices are seeing an increase as well, thanks to higher taxes and the increased BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) rate," Payne said, adding that the Fort Leavenworth area is perfect for families.

"You're 30 minutes from a [Kansas City] Chiefs game and 10 minutes from some of the best barbecue in the world. It's the perfect blend of small town charm and big city access," she added.

The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a military benefit that provides financial support to cover service members' housing and related costs in the civilian market when government quarters are unavailable, according to the Army.

A service member's BAH rate is based on their pay grade, dependency status, and the location of a service member's duty station. The rates change annually in January.