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New Apartment Complex In Works At Fort Meade

SARA BLUMBERG
The Capital of Annapolis

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) -- Construction is set to begin this week on a $72 million garden-style apartment complex on the grounds of Fort George E. Meade.

The 14-unit building is a first for the base and the Army, according to the developer, Picerne Military Housing. It will house more than 1,400 unmarried service men and women who are currently stationed at Meade.

The Army is developing the housing in a public-private partnership with Picerne Military Housing.

Known as Reece Crossings, the complex will boast 432 one- and two-bedroom, apartments. All dwellings will be also come furnished and range from 1,100 to 1,200 square feet in size. Completion is set for December 2013.

Soliders, sailors, airmen and Marines living there will have private master suites which include individual bathrooms, walk-in closets, personal climate controls, and private climate-controlled secure storage for military gear.

The complex will also feature a clubhouse that will include a pool and picnic facility.

"Through our partnership with Picerne, we will be able to deliver this groundbreaking project that will give our single service members the high-quality homes they deserve," Col. Edward C. Rothstein, garrison commander at Fort Meade, said in a prepared statement.

Reece Crossings is just one of many construction projects currently under way at Meade.

This month, officials finished construction on a new 2,200 United Service Organization building for its soldiers. On Oct. 16, construction began on a new 167,000-square-foot exchange. The $37 million project will replace the current 130,000-square-foot exchange and will feature a larger food court with six food vendors, a gun shop and a pharmacy.

It's slated for completion in 2014 and will be located within walking distance to the military exchange.

The addition of the complex is one effort to help alleviate commuting problems to the growing base. In the last decade, Fort Meade has tripled the number of its employees and is expected to fill its capacity of 70,000 in 20 years.

Picerne has constructed other housing facilities for Meade as well as Aberdeen Proving Ground.

"This project will be built at no cost to the Army, and will greatly improve the quality of life for young, single service members," said John Picerne, CEO of and president Corvias Group.

Corvias Group owns Picerne Military Housing. It specializes in providing real estate and housing construction services for the military.

Information from: The Capital of Annapolis, Md., http://capitalgazette.com

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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