A basic need

A good argument can be made for not reducing troop strength of the U.S. armed forces. The war in Afghanistan continues, Iran becomes more menacing each day, North Korea remains a dangerous unknown and terrorism continues throughout the world. The United States is reducing forces in Europe, but posting more in the Far East to offset China’s growing military might.

But citing costs, the Obama administration has decided to reduce forces from 560,000 active-duty troops to 490,000 by 2017. What really surprised everyone was the announcement that a new Base Realignment and Closure process will begin, renewing speculation as to which installations will close or face reductions.

Uncertainty creates caution. Northern New York has confidence that Fort Drum, perhaps the finest training base in the U.S. Army, is relatively secure as the next round of base closures draws near. But the national initiative to reduce the size of the military impinges on efforts to build much-needed housing locally.

As soldiers return to Fort Drum from deployments in Afghanistan this year, they and their families must have places to live. But the local housing market is as tight as it has ever been — and that affects not only soldiers but civilians as well.

Vacancies are few. Rental apartment costs are high. Local efforts to encourage housing construction are ongoing. But so far, only one major housing project is shovel-ready and under way. Two others are on standby.

Now comes BRAC and the questions it raises. Housing projects require developers and lenders, both of whom need to have confidence in their investments. But investors may take their time while the military is reshaped and its installations reconfigured. That hurts us here.

Locally, we need the housing now: we are short 1,035 apartment units and could use another 350 for good measure, according to the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization. If the north country does not come through with needed housing development in a timely fashion, soldiers and civilians will be hard-pressed to find lodgings and rents will remain exorbitant.

To fulfill the needs of Fort Drum and the civilian community, we need to build housing units. Recent national developments make the task more difficult, but it must be accomplished sooner rather than later.