Representatives from the US Postal Service (USPS) met with community members on Thursday, Aug. 23rd to lay out the proposed relocation of the Nat King Cole Post Office at 3rd and Western. No details were given as to the possible new location, but the USPS assured the audience that an updated retail station serving residents will be made available within the 90004 zip code, that P.O. box numbers will not change, and that there will be sufficient parking and accessibility at the new location.
In an effort to reduce costs and improve efficiency of the extremely financially-strapped, practically insolvent system, the USPS is realigning post office infrastructure across the nation. The proposed plan for 90004:
- Hearing concerns and suggestions from the community until September 7, 2012;
- Selling the current property since it is much larger than needed to service our area;
- Locating a new smaller facility ( of approximately 8,000 sq ft) within 90004 with ample parking, and ‘building it out’ as a retail store with counter service  and P.O. boxes;
- Moving the letter carrier delivery operations to the Los Feliz Station (2.5 miles away) requiring carriers to drive a bit further but still serving our neighborhood.
The USPS acknowledged that a new owner/developer of the property may consider developing the site with a smaller retail Post Office as a portion of the new development. This of course will depend on what kind of business buys the commercially-zoned corner property. It also raises another important question: what could, or should, be developed on the busy corner fronting Western and 3rd, and adjacent to St Brendan School?
Residents are encouraged to submit written comments on the USPS proposal prior to Sept. 7:
Diana Alvarado Pacific Facilities Service Office US Postal Service 1300 Evans Ave, Ste 200 San Francisco, CA 94188-8200
