LAKEHURST, NJ - - Thursday the Department of the Navy selected the development team of GMH/AB/Centex Military Communities, LLC, to participate in exclusive negotiations for a public-private venture (PPV) partnership of the Navy’s Northeast Region military housing.

This privatization initiative is a significant step toward more effectively and efficiently providing quality, affordable housing to military families located in the Navy’s Northeast Region.

The Northeast Family Housing privatization project will affect over 5,600 Navy owned homes spread over five states at the following locations: Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine; Naval Station Newport, R.I.; Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn.; Naval Support Unit Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, N.J.; Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J.; and Mitchel Complex, Long Island, NY.

At the Naval Air Engineering Station, 189 housing units will be part of the PPV project.

The exclusive negotiations to finalize project and partnership documents will take place over the next several months. Following Congressional notification, execution of the business agreements is expected to occur in October 2004.

Section 2801 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 provides a series of powerful authorities that allow the Department of Defense (DOD) to work with the private sector, nationwide, to provide family housing in key areas of need.

Principal members of GMH/AB/Centex Military Communities, LLC, are GMH Military Housing, located in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, The Benham Companies, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Centex Construction Company, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

For more information on the Department of the Navy’s PPV program, visit http://ppv.myhsg.navfac.navy.mil