FORT DRUM, N.Y. --  Less than a year ago, after Fort Drum had recently lost 1,500 soldiers to budget cuts, the Army and Drum decided to allow retirees and civilian employees to live on post. Now, months later with some homes still empty, the Army has gone a step further.

It's now allowing Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes to open up houses to everyone, including the outside public.

"I think it's very obvious to anybody that lives in the North Country and across the Army that the Army is downsizing and there's less soldiers here on Fort Drum than there was a year ago," Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes Project Manager Joe McLaughlin said.

The Army already allows this on 10 other posts in the country. A person moving in will have to go through a background check and will be given a special pass to allow them through the military police gate just as soldiers and employees are now. They'll also be able to invite guests on post the same way anyone else on post can.

"There is a proceedure in place to let the folks know at the military police gate," McLaughlin said. "All they've got to do is provide them the information they need, and they go in and sign-in and have them come over to their house. We've already worked through all those issues."

Mountain Community Homes has started $13 million in renovations to some two-bedroom homes that will be offered to the public. A few larger homes will also be available.

It hopes to be competitive by including utilities, water and sewer, trash and snow removal, 24-hour maintenance and the free use of community centers with the rent.

"You also can use those centers for birthday parties, bridal showers, all that fun stuff," Leasing Manager Allyssa Romeo said. "We have outdoor amenitites as well. So if people want to go outside in the winter, we have a sledding hill. There's miles of trail systems."

Mountain Community Homes says its mission is to provide soldiers and families with the best housing possible, but it can't do that with empty homes.

The leases for the homes are for one year. Mountain Community Homes says the full lease will be honored, even in the event the Army needs the housing for soldiers.

For more information, log on to www.fortdrummch.com.