But the buyer of the 16-home Navy housing project says he doesn’t want residents out.

The letter came in May.

The baby’s due in June.

Her husband is shipping out in July.

And, according to the letter – sent by American Eagle Communities, which manages, on behalf of the U.S. Navy, the military housing on Government Way in Winslow – Amanda Hansen and her neighbors have to vacate their homes no later than Aug. 14.

“The timing isn’t good,” said Hansen, who for two years has enjoyed living with her husband and two – soon to be three – children, in one of 16 homes situated on the prim greenery of Government Way.

According to the letter, dated May 16 and sent to every house on the street, tenants must move within 90 days because the land is being sold.

Along with receiving a relocation allowance of $582 to transfer cable and utilities, each family will be given money to move themselves or to pay for the services of professional movers. They will be relocated to a “home that is equal or better” than their current residence, the letter says.

The order to move was reiterated Thursday at a meeting between neighbors and a representative of American Eagle, neighbors said.

But the Dallas, Texas-based company, which maintains a local office in Keyport, did not return repeated calls by the Review for comment this week.

The Hansens, like all but one of the families living on the street, south of of Wyatt Way and east of Grow Avenue, are a Navy family.

They say they’re used to dealing with the impermanence that often accompanies military life; what they don’t understand is the deadline imposed by the notice.

They and several other families say they’ve been promised housing that is still under construction at Bangor Naval Base.

That housing is scheduled to be finished by the time they have to move, but Hansen is among those worried about being caught between a firm moving deadline and a construction delay.

“I don’t want to have to pay for a hotel for two weeks if the new place isn’t done,” she said. “We would really like to have the option to stay longer, even if it’s just a few weeks.”

Hansen’s husband Matt said he had hoped to live in their Government Way home for four more years, at which time his commitment to the Navy is scheduled to end.

Since that won’t happen, he, like his wife, just wants to make sure his family has some options.

“I understand this piece of land is worth a lot of money,” he said. “I don’t blame someone for wanting to develop it. But I also think American Eagle should take better care of us.”

In particular, he said, the company hasn’t made clear the reason why tenants couldn’t continue to rent the property from the new owner, should that become an option.

Island developer Kelly Samson, who is buying the land, said this week that he didn’t have anything to do with the eviction notice.

Though he hasn’t yet spoken with any of the current tenants, he said it makes good sense for him to continue renting to them until he solidifies his plans for the property.

“I have every reason in the world to keep renting to them,” Samson said. “I don’t want to have to go out and find new tenants.”

But residents say they were told by American Eagle that staying put, even if it’s only temporary, isn’t an option.

“We were told that under no circumstances could we stay past the 90 days,” said Kimberly Bloch, who moved in last August. “I’m used to moving. But I’m worried about my kids.

“I would never have moved here if I would have known this was going to happen.”

The letter says tenants were told when they moved in about the impending sale of the land, though several, including Bloch, said that never happened.

William Barker, who was already being relocated by the Navy before he received news of the eviction, said he was told when he moved in last summer that the land was going to be sold. As he understood it, though, the change wasn’t supposed to happen until 2008.

“Fortunately this won’t affect me,” he said. “But it’s hitting at a really bad time for some people here.”

Both the Hansens and Bloch said they are disappointed that moving an hour away means their children no longer will be able to attend Bainbridge schools, or be a part of the local community.

“We’re involved in everything,” said Bloch, after reciting a lengthy list of activities and groups with which her family is involved.

American Eagle, which has regional offices throughout the country, was formed several years ago to partner with the military in financing, constructing and managing new military housing.

Government Way’s 16 homes sit on 5.4 acres in central Winslow, and have served as Navy housing for decades.

The land is zoned for about 75 units total, and in 2004, American Eagle applied to the city for a rezone at higher density still. The plan was unanimously rejected by the city Planning Commission, and American Eagle has since been looking to sell the property.

The purchase by Samson, who plans to redevelop an adjacent parcel and has also developed properties around Blakely Harbor, was announced earlier this month.

Barker said he’ll miss the atmosphere and camaraderie of the neighborhood, something he hasn’t experienced to such a high degree in other Navy communities where he’s lived.

“Everyone here gets along so well,” he said. “We have neighborhood barbecues. I wish there were some alternative to just ripping this neighborhood apart.”