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West Point Update (Jun 08) |
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Page 4 of 4 10. Facilities.
a. The new library, Jefferson Hall, is almost completed. It will be open for the next academic year starting in August.
b. The move of the Prep School to West Point is still planned for 2011 but there is some discussion going on at the moment about the extent of facilities that need to be built to accommodate them. As you know, the last Base Realignment and Closing Round authorized by Congress required the closing of Fort Monmouth by 2011 (that's where the Prep School is currently located) and the re-location of the Prep School to USMA at the same time. No physical construction has started so decisions will have to be made soon or there is going to be somewhat of a problem in meeting the 2011 deadline.
c. The old Boodlers, building 720, was demolished two years ago. It's an empty lot at the moment. Current thought is that a new set of cadet barracks will be built there starting in 2010. The existing cadet barracks are beginning to show their age and all need to be renovated. Once the new barracks are built the plan is to take one set of older barracks off line at a time and renovate them, rotating through the entire group of cadet barracks buildings. One wild card in all this is the recent revelation at Fort Bragg where soldiers of the 82nd Airborne returning from overseas experienced less than satisfactory conditions is some of the barracks that they were sent to use. As a result of this well noticed problem the Army conducted and Army wide inventory of barracks to determine if other posts have sub-standard barracks buildings. Well, the list of posts being given some supplemental barracks upgrade money was just announced this past week and West Point was one of those posts set to receive some money for this purpose. If that translates into additional dollars for cadet barracks maintenance or construction remains yet to be seen. Remember, there are other army units on post with barracks as well.
d. Housing. The old Gray Ghost housing units are set to be demolished this year. In their place new quarters will be constructed. The only problem with this is that the new quarters will have 100 fewer sets of quarters than before. Because of this the old Gray Ghost quarters are being emptied as personnel leave and there will be no housing draw for personnel this summer. Post housing facilities are as tight as can be for incoming personnel. At least he local civilian housing market has some depressed housing prices (compared to several years ago) so that option is more available now than in the past.
That's the word from West Point for the moment.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 June 2008 )
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