by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Despite rumors and false reports, the United States Postal Service is not vacating downtown. They will, however, be out of the old Federal Courthouse by June 30 in accordance with an agreement with the City, which intends to incorporate the old courthouse into the new $211 million county courthouse complex.
“We will have a contractual station established,” said Joe Breckenridge, a spokesperson for the USPS. “We are going to pay somebody to operate this post office. We have awarded the contract and it is pending bonding.”
Breckenridge said the Postal Service’s legal office is handling the contract negotiations and didn’t know exactly who would run the new location or where it will be located. A Mail Boxes Etc. is planned for part of the old Underwoods Jewelers space, which is owned by Parker Hudson of General Real Estate Services.
“I don’t think this contractor is a Mail Boxes Etc.,” said Breckenridge, adding the Postal Service will reveal the contractor once they are bonded.
The Post Office was supposed to be out of the old courthouse today but that deadline was extended to June 30 after negotiations with City officials. Plans are to convert the old courthouse — which was acquired in a barter agreement with the General Services Administration in exchange for parking spaces in the Water Street Garage — into offices for the Public Defender’s and State Attorney’s office.
Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa said the City has no influence on the Postal Service’s decision and hopes they keep a presence downtown. Still, the deadline is looming and plans are to start demolition and abatement in the old courthouse as soon as possible.
“We are still expecting them to be out by June 30,” said Mousa.
Early this year, the Postal Service put out a request for proposal for a downtown postal provider. At the time they were looking for either another site to occupy themselves or an independent contractor. The Downtown Development Authority got involved, but only to help find a location.
“Our role was a) show them the market exists and b) show they had an obligation to serve the downtown customers,” said Jason Thiel, a project manager for the DDA. Thiel added the DDA actually had no role in the Postal Service’s decision to go with an independent contractor and he also isn’t sure of the new location.
Breckenridge said it could be a few weeks before the deal is finalized. However, the new facility will be full-service.
“It’ll offer all the services businesses typically want,” he said, adding customers will have to frequent the Kings Avenue branch for a couple of services. “We will have 900 Post Office boxes in the new building and 730 of those have already been rented.”