(Source: The York Dispatch)
By Charlie Lardner, The York Dispatch, Pa.
June 8--York Postmaster Mike Becker repeated the agency's intent to maintain some type
of retail service downtown as it prepares for the possible sale of the current
post office.
Becker spoke at a public meeting Tuesday in York City Council chambers,
held at the request of the U.S. Postal Service to gather public comment on the
location and services of a new retail mail outlet.
The current building at 200 S. George St. was built in 1911. Over the
years, many of the administrative jobs and mail handling have been moved to
other locations, Becker said.
A new location is being considered because the Postal Service needs only
5,000 square feet of space for its 10-person city operation and is negotiating
with a potential buyer for the building.
There is a possibility that a new owner might lease part of the
68,000-square-foot building and that mail operations could remain at South
George Street, Becker said, but if that arrangement doesn't work out it won't
stop the Postal Service from selling the building.
Mayor Kim Bracey said a successful downtown business district must have a
convenient and effective mail service nearby, and many city residents rely on
public transportation so a new location should provide the services currently
offered -- such as general delivery -- and be in a convenient location.
Council member Henry Nixon agreed, saying the current location might only
have 10 employees, but it is heavily used.
"I work downtown and try to time myself to go there when it is not busy,
and I have yet to find that time," Nixon said. "I think it is very important
it be a full-service post office in the city of York."
The process of selling the building and finding a new location will take
about nine months, and residents will have multiple times to comment for the
record on the process, said postal service real estate specialist Dennis
Perry.
Comments can be mailed to the attention of Dennis Perry, P.O. Box 27497,
Greensboro, NC, 27498-1103.
-- Reach Charlie Lardner at 505-5439 or clardner@yorkdispatch.com.
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