by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Three weeks ago, the United States Postal Service was considering two sites for its new Downtown facility. Earlier this week, the USPS selected ground floor retail space in the new Central Business District parking garage on North Pearl Street over space in the Main Library parking garage at the corner of Main and Duval streets.
Doug Reed of the USPS returned a call for comment, but referred all questions to Postal Service spokesperson Joe Breckenridge. Reed did inform the mayor’s office of the Postal Service’s decision via written correspondence.
“We believe this new site will provide the community with an upgraded, modern facility that offers a safe working environment for our employees and a level of service expected by our customers,” said Reed of the Postal Service’s Facilities Service Office in Lawrenceville, Ga.
According to Reed’s letter, the mayor’s office has 15 days to comment on the selection.
Both garages are owned by Metropolitan Parking Solutions. Michael Munz of The Dalton Agency, which represents MPS.
Breckenridge said the Pearl Street site is a better logistical fit for the Postal Service.
“Primarily because of its access,” he said. “Some of our trucks can in without difficulty. They can be backed up to the scissors lift, unloaded in the mail work room and sorted. At the other site, the access was very tight and it probably would not have worked.”
The new facility will require about 3,300 square feet and there are still several steps that have to occur before the facility can open.
“We have to jump through some environmental hoops, do our due diligence and make sure the site passes all the tests,” said Breckenridge. “Once that’s done, we have to finalize the lease then hire an architect to design what has to be built out. If the planet align perfectly, we will open in a year, maybe 18 months.”
Breckenridge said the Postal Service is looking for a long-term lease, something the in the neighborhood of 20 years and there are no plans to close the Kings Avenue facility.
“We won’t close that facility. It’s way too big,” he said. “That’s our biggest facility in Northeast Florida.”
The Postal Service had a facility in the old Federal Courthouse for years. However, in June 2003, it closed when the City bought the courthouse which it plans to incorporate into the new County Courthouse facility.