The hottest news on Fort Jackson surrounds the privatization of Army Family Housing. The military services have chosen to partner with a private sector developers as an alternative to improve the quality of life for Military Families.

In 1996, Congress passed into Public Law 104-106. This law provided a process for military installations to leverage private capital in order to enter into a limited partnership with a private developer to construct, renovate, operate and maintain housing. The Fort Jackson project is part of the Army program for housing and community development known as RCI, Residential Communities Initiative. It will:

~ Ensure that Soldiers and their Families have access to quality, safe, attractive, and affordable housing by upgrading existing Family Housing and by building new housing to eliminate inadequate housing here at Fort Jackson.

~ Transform existing military housing areas into planned and integrated residential communities, which foster Family lifestyles, while preserving the military culture of the properties, protecting cultural resources, and meeting environmental stewardship responsibility.

~ Provide ancillary supporting facilities that enhance the installation’s residential communities to include new neighborhood centers.

~ Maintain positive relations with communities that surround the installation.

~ Provide for the effective long-term, high-quality, management and operation of the Family Housing inventory and ancillary supporting facilities.

Overall, the Fort Jackson Family Housing privatization will hold many positive improvements for the Military members and their Families. The Fort Jackson transfer date is scheduled on 1 August 2008.

For more information concerning the RCI project, we welcome you to contact the RCI Office at (803)751-9343. Our office is located in Building 5939, Thomas Court. You may also visit the Army RCI website at www.rci.army.mil.

Fort Jackson staff is dedicated to providing Soldiers and their Families with the best management, maintenance, and homes in exchange for the military sponsor’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Through privatized Family Housing, the needs of the Families will be met in a timely manner from service to building quality homes and communities. We truly understand that Families have choices for the use of their BAH.

Fort Jackson realizes privatized Family Housing is a significant departure from the traditional management and appropriation for new construction. We will ensure your living in privatized Family Housing will be a great experience.

The Fort Jackson Vision / Development Plan for the next 50 years is to:

Eliminate all inadequate housing within the first six years.

~ Construct 503 new homes, and this includes 503 new homes and within the first six years.

~ Community Center (1)

~ Improve and established neighborhood amenities (landscaping, jogging / bike paths, etc)

~Gazebos

~ Total cost for years 1 through 6 is $152 million

~Out year development plan (7 to 50 years)

~ Renovate and replace on a periodic basis

~ Total cost for years 8 through 50 is $558 million

This vision includes establishing new housing areas – each containing Exceptional Family Member friendly houses (e.g. easier access, wider hallways, etc.)

The Fort Jackson RCI Timeline: (subject to change)