RECENT COMMENTS
25th Street Post Office is closed, may not reopen
From John:
I found the attached letter [BELOW] in my PO box yesterday, Saturday, April 8, 2017. East End station is closing indefinitely due to “Safety issues[sic] . . . .”
That closing is effective immediately, as the post office will not be open Monday according to the letter.
No plans are made to reopen, and the letter leaves a permanent close as one possiblity. Those with a PO Box can apparently wait in line to pick up their mail from a mobile postal unit for some unscpecified period. And it directs the reader to investigate getting a new box at Montrose, which will require paying another rental fee for that Montrose box.
Sounds like the actions of some manager who wants the post office to close and structured it to avoid public push back. Delivery on Friday for an office closed the next business day. Some unspecified safety issue provided as the reason, perhaps hoping local residents who depend on that post office cannot challenge safety as a reason to close.
The location has faced closure as recently as 2011. The property and building was purchased by East End Station LLC, connected to Josh Bilder, in 2015.
— ∮∮∮ —
22
They can do that? Well, that would explain why I haven’t gotten mail all week.
Anyone know how we voice concern and get this reopened? Every time I’m there are people walking up for money orders and single stamps for bill pay and I hate to lose the service. Letter conveniently leaves out how we show this need for ‘maximum and effective postal services’ on 25th.
Everyone else in my office received their important something on Monday, mine didn’t arrive until Friday. I have been receiving someone’s People magazine subscription for the last month, so if you’re Ms. Brady in Apt 12 I’m sorry
I was definitly wondering why we seemed to have not received any mail this week!
The 25th street post office does not deliver our mail, if I’m not mistaken. It comes from Sandston.
Good riddance.
I never went inside that location, the complaints online alone made it very untrustworthy.
@5 Actually it DOES come from 25th St., that’s where they sort it. Or used to sort it. I had a problem with a magazine delivery a couple of years ago, the post office sent it back saying my address did not exist, and I went to 25th St to complain and the manager actually took me in the back office to show me where they sorted. I noticed no mail delivery this week, too.
Moving forward, last time I went to the Klockner Blvd post office and commented about 25th St, the clerk told me to write/ call my senator. Anyone got Sen. Kaine’s and Sen. Warner’s addresses?
Fuuuuck I was going to go there today!!! Where is the next nearest one to south church hill?
I have a had a PO BOX there for some years and it has been a great convenience.
@9 Drive out Williamsburg Road towards the airport; turn right on Klockner Blvd. – there’s a marine supply store on the corner. It’s after Balack’s barbershop which is never open, and before Laburnum. NOT walking distance. I don’t know where the Capitol post office is, that is the other one referenced in the notice. This is going to be a huge inconvenience for lots of people, having this closed.
Thank God!!!
What you can’t see is the conditions inside of what the employees had to deal with.
The only thing is that you would not want to see it/smell or work under any of those conditions. Not even your worst enemy. The building itself needs to be torn down. Very very I mean very unsafe & unfit.
@12 Why are you so happy? And @13, could you be specific about the safety concerns? I’m not saying they don’t exist, just curious.
good!!!!!! this is the absolute worse post office with the worse employees. everyone was RUDE and took FOREVER do anything, including huffing and puffing after you stated your needs. screw them
Off Williamsburg road
Cool, that’s not too far
It will make a great hipster coffee house, god knows we need one up in the church hill ‘coffee desert’.
Someone in the real estate biz getting a sweetheart deal just like Sanders Station on Broad St.
“call your congressman”? more like “hey, where’s my wallet?!?!”
It was almost always faster to drive to Broadmiller, than wait in line at 25th St.
This is really a shame for folks that rely on public transportation and can’t just hop in their car to the next nearest option.
We can complain about the service at that facility but can you imagine working there? That place has chunks of concrete falling from the ceiling, exposed wiring, water damage…and that’s just what’s visible from the lobby. Dismal.
lol
25th Street Post Office workers are hard working, hope they find a good location in the interim and location serving most of the east end reopens. Main St is awesome but parking is non-existent. 2nd street is also understaffed, though they try their best to get you in and out. Thank you USPS Richmond workers for all you do.
I just paid the PO Box one year renewal fee on March 28 and now the PO is closing? Fraud!
You gotta be kidding me!
Capitol Station is near the corner of N 7th and Main Street.
I believe that our mail has been delivered by the Montrose location for the past few years (at least 2011). That is where you call to ask questions about delivery issues and what I have understood to be the case by their word.
The 25th Street building was built in 1956 and is privately owned. It is leased by the government with renewed 10 year contracts that can be broken. It was sold in 2015 for $800k to East End Station LLC, which is Sterling Management (Josh Builder).
The original owner had done little to no maintenance on it so, there is a leaking roof and foundation issues as well so I am sure mold is another problem and is probably the “safety issue”. Not sure about heating and air or ventilation as @13 Lgaines above hints to?
As for PO Boxes, they are offering, for those who have a box at 25th, to use the mobile unit service to replace it “temporarily” and understand the inconvenience of standing in line. If you want a physical box, then that is your option to obtain one at an additional cost through Montrose, above and beyond the quick fix for the current boxes at 25th. The notice is worded to lead people that this is not “permanent”.
I suspect that Builder is getting ready to renovate the building? But, it is not a major fixture in our community as it once was. In 2011, that location was up for the chopping block. Also at that time, they informed people that Church Hill mail was being delivered from Montrose. It is now mainly a convenience for some of the immediate foot traffic, which is probably not enough revenue to justify the cost of running it any longer? So who really knows its future other than Josh Builder?
Eric
Place looked like a dumpster fire and a place that shoulda sold smokes and scratchers to supplement repairs. It’s for the best.
Can we move on from this tragedy and think of all the post office-themed bar ideas that could be opened in its place?
Klockner road is the jam anyway! Go there! That post office is great.
Worst post office in the country.
There are a lot of people in this neighborhood that don’t drive and/or don’t have cars and rely on this post office for mail services and money orders. They can’t just run over to Montrose. This post office is always busy and there’s a waiting list for post office boxes. All that means we need a post office in Church Hill.
Good.
A mobile post office to pick up mail is more secure than the actual post office?
Thank you CHPN; I now know why I haven’t gotten mail in a week and where to attempt to retrieve it Monday.
This is quite frustrating; hope this is a short lived problem.
Best answer #28.
Why?
It really went down hill in last 8 years
Look up USPS.com and there is a national number you can call and an email you can file a complaint. They sent it back to the local offices. But if they don’t get enough people to complain they will close that office. Make sure you all get in your neighborhood and petition to have everyone either call, email or sign a petition to submit to have it remain open. That is the only way you all are going to keep that office open.
When mailing packages, it’s gotten to the point where I’d hike ~20 blocks over to the downtown office rather than walking less than 10 to the 25th street one. It’s cleaner, the service is friendlier…
Also, at the Main street office, I’ve yet to stand awkwardly in line with 10+ other people while a guy with pants half way down his knees is ranting at the top of his lungs to his girlfriend about the unfairness of cops coming after him for buying a stolen TV off of someone. That was one very depressing post office experience.
Call your congressman: Donald McEachin. She is new and will be here to write this for us. It does not look good that at least under Bobby Scott the thing was never actually closed. (202) 225-6365
Demand that he engage and find us a new retail location in the immediate vicinity.
Talks and rumors of this location closing happened well before 2011. Perhaps a smaller, cleaner, brighter post office could open up somewhere on the 25th St. corridor, where there’s certainly enough vacant buildings lining the street. I know parking for the delivery/pick-up vehicles is needed, but there needs to be a convenient site, with PO boxes, that can serve the greater Church Hill community.
If there is a different postal outlet, makes more sense to have it by the new grocery store and culinary school at 25th and nine mile.
This was such a bad post office. They were always closed. They were closed on Saturdays. They closed at noon on Wednesdays. They closed for TWO HOUR lunch breaks during the week. Every time I went there, they were closed. Sigh.
Sad. I lived nearby and was there all the time. Where is the next closest one?
So its closed. The door has a letter saying call Montrose about getting your mail there (presumably PO Box mail). Nobody answers the phone at Montrose. No access allowed to PO Boxes. No sign of the promised mobile unit to deliver PO Box mail. How do I get my PO box mail? And a waiting list for PO Boxes at Montrose, in some sizes. What a mess.
When people were talking about not getting mail for a week, I was assuming home delivery opposed to PO Box? You should have gotten PO Box mail at the mobile unit was already in place?
There are going to be people ranting about it closing but in all honesty it is the bottom line. You can’t run a business on a dozen customers a week hence the abbreviated hours and limited supplies. With email, handwritten posts are almost a thing of the past and less and less use of mail other than for packages or dying magazines now. The postal system keeps losing money yearly.
If you need postage stamps or money orders, you can go to The Market (Farm Fresh) at 25th and Main.
@45 John M, so now they are saying to pick up PO Box mail at Montrose rather than it being available through a Mobile Unit at 25th Street?
@Eric yep
@48 John M. That should be cause for a genuine complaint, especially for those who paid for PO Boxes at that location for a reason. Either place a Mobile Unit there or offer refunds.
The Montrose phone number is: (804) 226-2759
Consumer Affairs Manager for the Richmond area is Ms. Joanne Parham: (804) 775-6165
Call your congressman to get him engaged: 804-486-1840
I called this morning.
Yes, it needed improvement…both re: service and building maintenance. But an abrupt closing especially for folks without transportation creates not just an inconvenience but a burden. We need a PO on the Hill…somewhere…and this sudden closure leaves us in the dark.
@42 Every post office in Richmond (except the one on Libby and Grove and maybe some other outlying one) is closed on Saturday. It’s a disgrace what happened to USPS.
I don’t buy the falling volume excuse. People are sending more packages than ever and USPS in my opinion is much better than UPS. It’s MUCH cheaper and just as fast.
Someone doesn’t want USPS to succeed. I don’t understand why mailing a package to Europe costs $22 when to get the same package mailed the other way costs around $12.
What about that USPS parking lot on 24th street? Is that being used at all? It looks pretty ugly and is not a great use of space. I hope something gets built there now.
From Congressman McEachins office:
Update from Congressman McEachin’s office on the unfortunate closure of the post office –
We share your concern about the hasty closure of this post office. We have already contacted the Postmaster General and have placed calls with the appropriate person at the United States Postal Service, who oversees Virginia. We have also reached out to other elected officials to ask them to weigh in with the postal service.
Tara Adams, in our Richmond office, is overseeing this effort. Please feel free to contact her with your concerns and with additional specific reasons why this post office is valuable to the community. Let us know if you are having issues with getting access to mail in your P.O. Box or anything else. Tara can be reached at: tara.adams@mail.house.gov.
We will continue to keep you informed with any updates we receive.
Jamitress Bowden ? Communications Director
Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04)
jamitress.bowden@mail.house.gov
C: 202-306-0546
O: 202-225-6365
The conditions in that building that the postal employees had to work in was sad. You would not even want your worst enemies to work there. The owner of the building really needs to be slapped with charges. Very unsafe for the postal employees or anyone
“The postal system keeps losing money yearly.”
wrong. the postal service is being forced to fully fund its pension liabilities, unlike cities, states and federal employers.
absent this onerous obligation the postal service would be profitable.
this is part of a ploy to ‘privatize’ the delivery of postal mail and outsource it completely to UPS, FedEx etc, in cahoots with lobbyists and your elected representatives.
and, in reference to my earlier post about post office property chicanery, here’s an interesting read:
http://savethepostoffice.com/oig-recommends-terminating-usps-cbre-contract-and-refers-cases-criminal-investigation/
my dad was a letter carrier. the USPS used to be the envy of the world.
I once lived in a country where the post offices were privatized, the new corporate owners looted / bankrupted it, leaving the taxpayers holding the bag.
congress intentionally starves AMTRAK and USPS, so they can say “see, government workers suck, private industry works better”
more like ‘privatize profits, socialize losses’, meanwhile elderly and low income folks get the shaft.
I’m sad to see physical mail dying.
I found the customer side of the interior and exterior of this building charming. Never considered the employee side.
I thinking having a post office adds to the community, sorry to see it shut down for that reason.
I liked the one guy that I deal with there. I like those old fashion transaction, and I never had a problem.
One time when I was high, I came upon the parking lot side on the next street over, and it’s no trespassing sign, I was entranced by the idea that the Federal gov’t owned some odd little lot in Church Hill. Potentially so nefarious! Fascinated, I walked around the block only to discover it was a post office.
I agree that the service at the EEPO and the building were equally horrible, however we must have a PO in Church Hill (good service would be a plus). The walkability of our community requires a PO and walkability is one of CH’s best qualities.
Management should have planned better so that the disruption of mail service did not occur — there is no excuse for the poor planning. I have a PO box there and after being gone last week for business I learned of the closure from the posted letter. I went to the Klockner St. PO and was told by Omar Shaw (supervisor) that the closure was prompted by OSHA violations. If that’s the case, then we need to see the Notice of Violation. Typically, such Notices give the (alleged) violator time to cure the problem.
The phone number for Ms. Pettiford (manager, Montrose & EEPO) is 804-226-2759 or 226-1604. The number for labor relations is 804-775-6193.
If this location is unsafe due to the building’s condition, then we need to push hard for a new PO to be opened in CH.
I’ve had a PO Box at this East End station since 1985. I am devastated to see it close. Some years ago, there was a chance for the neighborhood to voice its wishes in the face of a potential closing, and a huge crowd showed up for the meeting. The need and use of this station remain enormous, as could be seen from the long lines there even before they reduced the hours of operation. And with so much mail and package theft in our neighborhood, a PO Box provided a secure and safe address.
The marvelous and patient people behind the counter — Mr. Marrow, and for many wonderful years Claudette Day — and patient Rose: these are magnificent hard-working souls. So many times I saw them rudely treated by customers, and they were always kind and good. They comprised a center of neighborhood well-being. The reduced hours only made their jobs harder and perhaps their pay lower.
This is a profound loss for us, right when the neighborhood is growing and welcoming brand new people. With the absence of advance notice, I wonder what really lies behind this sudden closing. It’s like that huge beautiful tree that was cut down across the street from Alamo BBQ, one of the greatest trees in all Richmond. Some unnamed developer did it quickly before the community could voice its needs or its dreams, and has left the pieces of trunk lying there like a dismembered elephant. Is the same thing happening to our post office?
Why hasn’t anyone mentioned THE BULLET PROOF GLASS AND THAT BIZARRE METAL BOX THING you had to use to get parcels to the postal worker? Honestly all they need in that joint is one of those kiosks that do pretty much everything that a post office should – sell stamps and weigh parcels and you can buy postage to mail packages. All you need is an electrical outlet and a credit/debit card.
That place was always a joke and by joke I mean awful
@58 Tricia D.
I do not see anything on OSHA’s site for any report for this U.S. Postal Service office… at least right now.
@59 E.King
The tree by Alamo, What happened there is that the property was sold. The tree was supposed to be protected but a stipulation of the new property owner was to have the tree removed by the previous owner prior to purchase. At least that is what was “said”. But, the property was in the new owner’s name by the time the tree was cut down. Fingers are pointing as who is responsible. And, the CAR is requiring the new developer to find a way to add a tree back in their plans which currently shows none. And nothing seems to be moving along with the project anyway.
@55 Letitia Tish Gaines
What you write makes me feel like you either currently or have recently worked there or knows someone who does? Can you elaborate more about what could be happening?
Everyone is jumping to conclusions that this Post Office has permanently closed even though everything in print by them so far says it is only temporarily closed? Yet, things do seem to point to otherwise.
Don’t forget the February lawsuit as well. Not sure if it has anything to do with things? The lawsuit claims supervisors tampered with employee time cards to manipulate and reduce overtime expenses. About 300 employees in Richmond were suing for their wages.
#54 – Kudos to McEachins office refreshingly quick and perhaps effective response.
People have mentioned the open area next to and beside the Post Office. Keep in mind that there use to be another movie theater at that spot (yes two on the same block) called the Patrick Henry Theater built in 1933, stopped showing movies by 1952, and demolished in 1967 to open up the area to expand the Post Office.
Josh Bilder’s company owns the property and know he reads this forum so, can you please chime in?
East End Station, LLC
Sterling Management Corp.of VA LLC
17 S. Belmont Avenue
Richmond VA 23221
Ms. Emily Sterling, C.E.O.
Mr. Josh Bilder, Vice President
804-359-5018
stlgmgmt@gmail.com
(Note- I believe Emily Sterling is Josh Bilder’s mother. Sterling has been in business since 1945 and a member of the BBB since 1985 and has an A+ rating.)
SCC entry SCC ID: S5552890 shows:
Registered Agent for East End Station, LLC (Post Office)
Jennifer D. Mullen, Esq.
Roth Jackson Gibbons Condlin, PLC
919 E. Main Street
Suite 2110
Richmond VA 23219
(804) 977-3374 – her direct number
From WTVR http://wtvr.com/2017/04/10/residents-frustrated-after-east-end-post-office-closes-abruptly/
Bilder said the closure came as a shock to him, and while he knows the building needs work, he didn’t think it would need to be closed.
“This is something that is embarrassing for me, and embarrassing for Richmond. There’s no one to blame, and you can spread the blame around, but I would just say it falls on me, and I am the one that is going to correct the situation,” Bilder said.”
Looking forward to what Mr. Bilder is proposing for that entire stretch.
I believe he can tear down — or substantially reconfigure it to qualify for tax credits — the existing PO building and put whatever is appropriate in the existing parking lot. I suspect retail on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors would be the most likely option.
a few weeks ago after years of mail lost wrong deiveries I asked a friend who is a retired postal inspector how i could sollve the problem.he advised me that while people whine and complain to actually file a written complaint is something very few people actually do and that is the problem.I did.The post service sent me a link that I asume many other people got that sends a photo of your mail each evening in an email. each day last week that the mail did not arive i clicked the link and filed a complaint. Fri. the tracking on an overnight package was marked delivered by the USPS when is was not. I filed a complaint with amazon at 10:45 fri nite the tracking was changed to ready to be picked up at the post office.Sat morning the package and last weeks mail was delivered.
Moving the Post Office to the new grocery Store complex at 25th and Nine mile road would be a great idea.
Keep in mind that you can buy stamps and money orders only a couple blocks away at the Farm Fresh grocery store on 25th and Main.
@67 Mark, I have run across this several time with items that have tracking numbers, show that it was either out for delivery or has been delivered. I was told by one employee that when it says “out for delivery” doesn’t necessarily mean that literally but has arrived at Sandston and being delivered to the “Montrose” office for delivery. It is a bit misleading. And I have seen things that were said out for delivery and delivered, not updated for several days.
I am glad that Bilder will address the issue but at the same time, as with other issues he has been caught short on, is not inspecting and maintaining his properties on a regular basis or he would have known about this situation. He is taking the blame and responsibility but, where is he going to get the funds to fix or rebuild the station since his money is currently tied up on the complex by the park?
Thank you, E. King, for so graciously sharing about those who served us at our little P.O. I always found them to be very kind and enjoyed my interactions with them!
This has been picked up by the Times Dispatch, too.
http://www.richmond.com/local/city-of-richmond/landlord-apologizes-for-really-big-mistake-hopes-to-reopen-east/article_3c79a619-ad97-5656-8cb7-eb62fc676207.html
If this helps, I looked up the building lease info at the USPS webiste. Bilder owns the building but it was leased by:
ASSET 10305 LLC,
C/O NATIONWIDE POSTAL
123 GROVE AVE, STE 222
CEDARHURST, NY
11516-2302
Property ID: 517650008
It was last leased April 1, 2014 and runs through March 31, 2019.
They pay $88,308 annual rent on the building
Channel 12 has also picked it up –
http://www.nbc12.com/story/35119565/church-hill-post-office-suddenly-closes
This is the van for folks with PO BOXES.
It is my understanding that if you have a delivery notice and need to pick up a package, you will need to go to Klockner.
@73 crd,
McEachins’ comment of “over 40 years” is a bit off the mark. It has been open for over 60 years in that building.
@75 John M,
Mail is delivered by Montrose but when you had a pickup notice, they dropped off the item at 25th Street. You would think they could just add it to the Mobile Unit?
Montrose is not within walking distance but no one has posted how those without a car can get there by bus, if possible? Can someone post a bus route to take?
Correction, I could swear the plaque in the lobby says the building was opened in 1956, but in actuality, it was dedicated on Friday, March 28 1958, and opened for business the following Monday. Postmaster was Fergus McRee, The old Post Office was in a large building on the block of buildings demolished in 1962, where Patrick Henry Park is now, and moved out of the building in 1955, when cracks developed in the walls supposedly from the train tunnel. They took temporary quarters in the Captain Buzzy’s building on the corner of N 27th and E Broad until a new location could be found, but a one story cinderblock building was quickly built (expanded in 1968).
FYI:
http://www.richmond.com/local/city-of-richmond/landlord-apologizes-for-really-big-mistake-hopes-to-reopen-east/article_3c79a619-ad97-5656-8cb7-eb62fc676207.html
Hoping that a new and improved post office does open this summer…
#72 Eric, since you’ve seen the lease, which party has the responsibility for maintaining the property? Since it’s a commercial lease, it’s not a given that the responsibility belongs to the Landlord.
And does ASSET 10305 LLC sub-lease to the USPS?
Hmmm, Bilder not being a good steward to the neighborhood, imagine that!
#77 There is no bus that will take you to that location.
#18 Really? The 4 coffee shop/bakeries within walking distance of this location aren’t enough for you?? There are lots of folks without cars who depended on that Post Office. The last thing Church Hill needs is ANOTHER hipster anything business
Tales from Klocker Drive: the parking lot signs optimistically state that 10 minutes of parking is permitted for customers. I spend more than that amount of time (my truck wasn’t towed) while a postal employee re-wrapped packages for a customer, giving her an exhaustive tutorial on how to mail things and finally responding to a question about the 25th Street post office closing, explaining that this time “they” had to keep the closing “…quiet until it was done.” I didn’t ask who “they” are.
From Phil Wilayto (Virginia Defender):
@80 MHB
I only saw the entry information and not the actual lease but, it does say that the USPS is responsible for maintenance “except” the roof of the building. It’s the roof that is apparently the main problem, which could have caused others. Bilder not wanting to cite all the issues causing the closing is a bit unnerving.
@83 A. Obika,
I can second that! Trends are just that and will end leaving empty buildings which will take more money to convert to another type of business.
Just throwing this out on the table. The Post Office is more than just the building but all of the property that run behind it to 24th Street, and the other side of the old restaurant building and behind it. The building lease square feet is: 9,358 and property is 29,794 sq ft. In comparison, the theater building and property is only 8,850 sq ft. That is a lot of undeveloped (and wastefully leased) land not being used to just sit on without some sort of intent. The current lease is until March 31, 2019 but the government can legally break it at any time.
Contractors are notorious for not keeping timetables, including Bilder. The project he is currently working on was supposed to have opened in August of last year but had not even broken ground by then. The PO being open again in June or July is not exactly written in stone and an open ended commitment. Also, the PO flip-flopping about how to handle PO Box customers is a red flag to me. I would expect that after the 2019 lease was up, it will not be renewed but, he would try to find a new location for them (Josh is not a monster, just a bit misguided sometimes). The building shutting down before plans are in place is now causing a multitude of issues. The building is simply and cheaply made with cinderblocks and a warehouse type steel truss roof. Not built for longevity and originally built nearly 60 years ago in 1958, as a last ditch effort to find housing for the displaced PO.
@84 mary,
That is quite a statement the counter person made and needs further investigating. I suspect that Letitia Tish Gaines, who made a couple of posts above, knows something since she was adamant about working conditions at that station and hope she will elaborate?
No amount of pleading to the government will keep a location open if there are other locations so close by (compared many towns and cities where they aren’t), especially if economics and/or legal issues are prevailing. Construction problems can be taken care of but it is all sounding more and more like there are other factors in play here.
Haven’t been to 25th street post office in years. Long long ago they had stamp machines but when they broke the machines never returned…a great deal of the issue with service seemed to involve customers needing to buy a money order and a stamp or stamped envelope to transact their business (pay rent,bills, etc.). This took time. There are many older people who simply do not have bank accounts or who do not keep their money in banks (this is not a judgment, it is an observation).
Klockner is ok. Depending on time of day the line can be long, but they service a huge area. Don’t even try to go up in there around Xmas. The associates are always thorough and friendly. Plus, the proximity to Country Style Doughnuts cannot go without mention.
The one on Main at 7th is pretty fast–most of their mail is corporate PO boxes so their counter traffic is quite light. But parking it a major bitch so it’s kind of net negative.
A small non-USPS pack & ship type store with mailboxes would probably do great in the neighborhood. Everyone’s always complaining about packages getting stolen.
@88 Clay Street,
A consolidated store like you mentioned, would not need as large of location as the present building on 25th. There was a lot of “talk” but no “action” a couple months back when there was a rash of porch thefts about a possible UPS (not USPS) store with other services like PO Box numbers.
As I have said over and over, the Farm Fresh sells stamps and money orders and is only a couple blocks away, within walking distance. If people only need the basics to pay bills, this would meet their needs while shopping for groceries and keeping money within our community. Does the Chimbo Supermarket also do the same?
@28 Eva Tiner,
Another “Bar”? Really? Why another when almost every food place within walking distance in Church Hill serves alcohol in one form or another? One right next door at Liberty Public House, Patrick Henry Pub, Dutch & Co., The Hill Café, etc…
Tricia Dunlap has been, let’s say “busy”, as a one man crusade, received a response from Tara Adams at McEachin’s office. Her post on Nextdoor says in part: ” The structure has been severely compromised and has hazardous maintenance issues. ” She also directly contacted OSHA and was told nothing has been reported along those lines.
I would like to know what severely went wrong with the building? Did the roof collapse? Does anyone have a drone who can fly over to see?
Even though Montrose is our delivery station, there are others which is closer using the 25th Street station as point ‘A’.
Capitol Station (700 E Main) 1.5 miles
Central Station (205 N 2nd) 1.6 miles
Saunders Station (1645 W Broad) 2.5 miles
Brook – Main Station (1801 Brook rd) 3.0 miles
Montrose is further than all of them at 4.1 miles
USPS also says that stamp books can be purchased at Farm Fresh (as I have been mentioning), CVS, and Wells-Fargo.
More obstacles for the transit-dependent and low-income residents of the city. The comfortable well-meaning people of the city need to realize what is taking place rapidly in Richmond. Resources are being taken away from the very populations that need them the most – the same populations that we claim to want to impact with our anti-poverty initiatives. Why are we allowing so many policies to come to the densely low-income areas of the city?! I realize that people do who may work in an office or have vehicles and spare time may not see the huge impact of this. There are numerous small biz owners and entrepreneurs who use this post office. I have seen people making emergency mailings there. What about people who have certified checks and whatnot to pick up? There’s elderly people with PO boxes in there also. Smh. But we’re building bike boulevards on 29th Street…
http://wric.com/2017/04/12/east-end-post-office-resumes-services/
@93 Daniel,
I am not sure how the Postal Service is working with Bilder to reopen the building if it is beyond fixing? If it needs torn down and rebuilt, I doubt it will be at the same location since there is so much attached unused valuable real estate (land) where something else could be built on it with that opportunity.
The news headline is misleading, baiting people to click the link thinking the office is open again. Shady rag type tactics.
Also, if the building structure is severely compromised and doubts it can be reopened due to all of the work needed which has to be up to current building codes, and can not be occupied, why hasn’t the city put a Condemned Notice on it?
Wow, once again, it was the topic of “the moment” and as soon as something else comes up, or the headlines disappear from the sidebar, people simply forget about it no matter how much they squawked.
So, what is the latest on this?
The temporary truck out front is working well for people.
There is work being done inside the post office building, no new word on an ETA.
@97 John M.. I am surprised since Bilder self admitted that the building was seriously compromised and was not sure how it could be fixed considering the building code requirements now opposed to the 1950s, or if it even could be fixed? I still question the economic feasibility versus efficient use of land (or lack of use) and value compared to investing in the current structure, which by all rights according to city codes, should be condemned?
I walked over to the mobile unit to mail a package, which they are not set up to do. I asked where I could and the person behind the counter, who was reading a newspaper, had no idea. Montrose is the default location but he did not even suggest it but the Capitol station. I said I need a place to park to walk in and he then suggested Brook Road. I asked how to get there and he did not know so changed his answer to the Saunders location.
What I am getting at is that this is disturbing that the person they have posted at this location has no idea what to say or basically, what they are doing?!?!?
I also noted that there is nothing happening to the building yet and no building permits issued.
Someone mentioned on Nextdoor, that this unit was like a Theater… meaning, it is there mostly for show and not real function. That is something that rings true to me as though they are hoping that locals will get acclimated with the other post offices close by so they can phase out the old building location hence, nothing has been done nor permits filed yet. Odd, especially if it was such a hot and important issue to them and was to be done by July (2 months)? One person reluctantly hinted that there is asbestos issues as only one of the problems with the building.
I have never had any problems when I have went to this post office very convenient I have been in and out. It kills me to see some of the comments about the post office and safety but when it comes to gentrifying the neighborhood then it is a safe place FYI-same neighborhood where claims the post office is not safe. For those people who says it is not safe why continue to go there just my thoughts…. Keep the Post Office Fix the problem!!
It is going on 2 months past and the “deadline” of a July reopening per Josh Bilder is approaching. In the meantime, I see zero happening with the building concerning repairs or general work. Just a bin with packages at the front door and no signs of work anywhere inside or out. And no building permits on file.
I still have a feeling that they are just hoping that over time, those who complained the most will simply move on as they get use to going to other locations while this one has no intentions of reopening.
They really want to tear it down so the new building beside it can have a space for parking lets be real. It is what it is. They don’t care nobody having to go elsewhere to a ppst office. It’s a shame but true……
Here it is the end of October. Several deadlines have come and gone. There was what looked like “something” going on inside but little to see of that happening outside. Has anyone heard a word on updated by McEachin, who was the contact on this effort? Personally, I still think that you should not hold your breath. Back in April, the building owner Josh Bilder, made this statement which is not promising…
“I don’t know if we’re going to be able to save the building,” Bilder said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen because all the codes, all the building codes have changed. I don’t want to send people into a building that’s unsafe you know what I mean?”
I still think that the longer it remains closed, the more people becomes acclimated to using other locations making it easier to tear down this building and use this, and the adjoining valuable unused land, for something else.
Hope so, Eric. That Post Office and the parking lot next to it has a far better use than what it is now.
The Post Office should be moved towards 9 Mile Rd. where it would be closer to most of the customers without cars that need it.
@105 ray, as usual, another HOT Button topic that quickly died so, I guess people have moved on and don’t care now if this building is torn down. It would be the best considering all of the other location options so close and like your Nine Mile Road suggestion… if they ever build the grocery store?