The private firm taking over post housing at Fort Gordon marked its first day on the job Monday with face paint and Cracker Jack.

The snacks and fun were part of a family-friendly welcome staged by GMH Military Housing to herald the transition that will inject $114 million in construction into the community during the next six years.

Project director Harry Bloomer said each of the existing 876 family housing units, built between the mid-1930s and 1975, will be renovated, demolished or converted, meaning some homes in multiple-unit buildings will be consolidated, essentially doubling existing space per unit. More than 300 homes will be built.

The renaissance also will include "lifeworks" improvements, Mr. Bloomer said, such as a new 4,000-square-foot community center, new basketball courts, and refurbished tennis and basketball courts and playgrounds. A full-time staff member will coordinate community events.

"It's not just a matter of trying to make the housing nice," Mr. Bloomer said.

Sgt. Jonathan Brown, who lives on base with his wife and two children, says he has a couple of reasons he's looking forward to the changes.

"I think eventually it will be good because they'll give us twice the house that I have now, and they'll cut the grass," he said.

GMH will use an army of subcontractors for everything from landscaping to pest control to painting, plumbing and carpentry, Mr. Bloomer said. One of the first to receive a contract, Hannable Simmons, of Harlem, was renovating bus stops with his three-man crew Monday afternoon, applying yellow paint to curbing and sprucing up the simple shelters.

Mr. Simmons said he bid for the job after a GMH information session at the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce.

"It means the world to me. Just put 'blessing,'" Mr. Simmons said."I plan on getting old with them."

GMH Military Housing has a 50-year contract with the Army, during which it will own and manage the buildings, Mr. Bloomer said.

Reach J.C. Lexow at (706) 828-3904 or jc.lexow@augustachronicle.com.