With a projected budget deficit up to $7 billion in 2010, and $238 billion over the next decade, the United States Postal Service has been forced to make deep cuts, which will include selling the building that houses the post office in lower Queen Anne.
However, while the building at 415 First Ave. N. is for sale, USPS spokesman Earney Swanson said USPS would "try and work out an arrangement with the new property owner to see if we could have the Queen Anne post office stay where it is."
USPS owns the four-story building, which currently houses offices upstairs, and the post office operating on the first floor. The building was put up for sale in late February. If the new owner does not want to lease out the first floor then USPS will try to find a spot as close to the current location as possible, Swanson said.
"We'd find another location in Lower Queen Anne," Swanson added. "We need to continue to provide service in the area."
Nationwide, 227 post offices closed in 2009, including three offices in eastern Washington. The Lower Queen Anne post office has been in operation for nearly 50 years. At this point, Swanson did not what sites in the neighborhood, if any, were being considered should the post office leave its current location. Swanson could not tell the News the sale price, but said there are not yet any prospective buyers.
"Quite honestly, with the economy the way it is now, I don't think they're expecting the building to sell anytime quickly," Swanson said. "I could be wrong, but I don't expect it to happen right away."
In other post office happenings, Magnolia will be getting a new mailbox location at the drive-thru at the US Bank at 3124 W. McGraw St. But the new box comes at a price as the USPS is consolidating, not expanding. Another box in the neighborhood will be removed as the new one at US Bank is installed. Magnolia Branch Manager Kristy Dickson said the box should be installed and open for drop-offs by the end of the month.
Box removal will happen at one of the following six sites: 3054 28th Ave. W., 3655 34th Ave. W., 2809 Thorndyke Ave. W., 4223 26th Ave. W., 1897 Magnolia Blvd., 4001 Gilman Ave. W., 4019 21st Ave. W., and 3211 W. McGraw St.[[In-content Ad]]
