Formerly full of mail delivery trucks, the parking lot at 24th and Union is now empty
The US Post Office has already moved their distribution center at 23rd and Union to 4th and Lander. While the distribution arm of the location was the bulk of the employment at the location, the retail front has remained open.
Now the Post Office has announced that they plan to move the retail location to “a smaller, more cost-effective location,” Russ Rainey with USPS told the City Council’s Economic Resiliency and Regional Relations Committee Wednesday (see video below).
They are in the first steps of the search for a new location, so it is still “several months down the road,” said Rainey.
However, PO Boxes at 23rd and Union will be moved to Broadway and Denny. Our sister site Capitol Hill Seattle reported last year on the sale of that property, though there are not yet plans for change there.
Here’s the video of the meeting (starts around the 7:00 mark):
I understand that USPS has to trim its budget, but a “smaller” location is regrettable: the present retail location is almost always full, with long lines and insufficient staffing.
This is unfortunate also in that the office at 23rd has Parking!
Absolutely, the parking is very difficult there. Look at how many cars are in the lot at 23rd on an average day, never mind the busy times. If the boxes are moved there, but with no retail sales, then they should have a couple of ten-minute load spaces for PO Box holders.
I watched the video, and am still trying to process the info. First the contract station off of 15th on Republican is in the Broadway area more than the E. Union. I do understand that the Broadway station would be looked at as important in a high density area near light rail. I doubt the rent there is less than on E. Union. I get that the plan is that USPS will be moving the boxes to Broadway, which really is not nearly as accessible for people in this area. I cannot recall if there is parking at the Broadway Station.
Since no new plan for the retail space was mentioned, can I assume that means that the retail space will continue as usual until a space (even 23rd and E. Union) is identified?
Some have wondered if we can save the 23rd and Union Post Office. Contact Congressman Adam Smith’s office.http://adamsmith.house.gov/contact/ His office has let me know that he has been taken by surprise by the current consolidation plans and that it will help him question how this decision is being made if he hears from community members who care about the Post Office. The Post Office at 23rd and E. Union is one of the busiest in the system.
http://adamsmith.house.gov/contact/
No. Let’s allow some change. Post office needs to change to survive. We want less service and fewer locations from a utility that is rarely needed anymore.
Grumbo, but how are the decisions being made? That is the question. Consolidation may be necessary, but why close the two of the busiest locations and move them to less accessible and busy locations Communities and property owners who have a relationship with the Post Office rarely want to lose the service. I believe that it is very important to find out how and why. Broadway is much less accessible for those who use the service.
PS The other location that is being closed is in the International District.
I would favor dropping Saturday service and relieving the USPS of their mandate to prefund the retirement health benefits of future employees who haven’t even been born yet.
The current location is vital to our neighborhood, and the outsourcing of the delivery portion to the SODO facility seems to be working well (I get much less misdelivered mail!).
There is an excellent article about this topic on page 2 of the current issue of Real Change, though they disagree on cutting out Saturday deliveries.
Thanks for the reminder to contact Adam Smith!
Carolyn, I totally agree.