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FORT DRUM Post officials are planning to end use of World War II-era quarters as temporary lodging for incoming soldiers and visitors.
According to James W. Corriveau, the posts director of public works, the 360 beds offered through its older bachelor-officer quarters have been out of date for more than six decades since their installation in 1941.
It was designed for five years, and now its lasted 71 years, Mr. Corriveau said. Its served its country well.
The work comes as part of an Armywide initiative to privatize installation lodgings.
The rebranding of the Inn at Fort Drum, on Po Valley Road, is expected to provide a total of about 111 beds.
A larger Candlewood Suites, expected to be built near the crossing of Mount Belvedere Road and Enduring Freedom Drive, would add about 235 beds. Mr. Corriveau said construction of the hotel is expected to begin by spring 2014.
Though the overall number of beds will go down through the lodging change, Mr. Corriveau said the older spaces were lacking in privacy and more modern amenities such as in-room bathrooms.
Its gotta go, he said.
Both lodging projects will be undertaken by Rest Easy LLC, a partnership created by the Army and Lend Lease, the company that has developed Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes. Once completed, the locations will be operated by InterContinental Hotels Group.
Mr. Corriveau said the bachelor-officer quarters likely will be used until the hotels are completed, at which point they will be either repurposed into new office spaces or demolished.
The project is in the middle of an environmental assessment period with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Comments will be accepted by the department until Sept. 7. A copy of the filing can be viewed at www.scribd.com/doc/103372621.