Now, as a possible hint of what the government may do with at least part of its sprawling network of military facilities, four buildings totaling 77,000 sf will be made available for private-sector use. That's small in terms of the total Picatinny package--1,000 buildings covering more than 6,500 acres of prime northern New Jersey land--but observers feel there is a kernel of evidence here about what the US government might do in terms of disposing of more of its far-flung real estate holdings.

As far as the buildings that are being made available are concerned, the government is looking for everything from lab uses, to light manufacturing, administrative offices and educational/training facilities, according to David Banashefski, who runs the arsenal's public-private partnership office. He reports that the facility's commander, Brigadier General William Lenaers, signed the suitability-to-lease papers last week, effectively putting the four buildings on the market.

Some questions remain. One is the extent of redevelopment of the buildings to ready them for occupancy, which arsenal officials would not comment. In any case, the government is looking to hire a private-sector developer to take on the project of refurbishing the structures and putting them on the market.

While Picatinny has congressional approval to move ahead with the project, it still must approve the hiring of any developer to carry the project forward. The government is looking to get $10 per sf to $14 per sf for the buildings, which range from 10,500 sf to just under 32,500 sf in size. Three of them are currently vacant, while the fourth is partially occupied as a residence for enlisted soldiers.

As far as the rest of Picatinny Arsenal's sprawling holdings, the base is safe for now. Officials have not indicated whether more of it will be made available for private sector use.