Post office

for sale
By Melanie Davis
melanie@highcountrymedia.net

The U.S. Postal Service may be shipping out of downtown Boone leaving the fate of one of King Street’s most historically rich buildings in doubt. A public notification announcing the sale of the historic building was posted at the station on Friday, requesting public comment.

Enola Rice, N.C. spokesperson for the Postal Service, said the agency is exploring its options for the downtown location, and that no solid decision will be made before mid-March of 2008.

Rice said the notification of sale is a means to gather comments from both concerned citizens and prospective buyers.

“We must attempt to sell the building in order to determine what we want to do. We are gathering information for an informed decision,” she said.

The building is currently for sale using an out-of-state realty company, Realty Asset Management in Colorado. Rice said the building had not yet been appraised. Tax records in Watauga County list the value of the property to be just over $1 million — $202,800 for the building and $830,500 for the land.

The Postal Service uses only a portion of the building to conduct postal transactions. After the sale of the building the Postal Service could remain by means of lease or discontinue. Rice said the Postal Service is in the preliminary stages of the decision-making process and that all options are being investigated.

The Downtown Boone Development Association received news of the potential closure in mid-December.

Director Tuesdae Rice said the organization has been aggressively pursuing avenues to maintain the downtown location. The colonial revival building was erected in 1938.

“The main priority for the DBDA was to first ensure the integrity of the historic building will be maintained,” Rice said. “We immediately contacted the state historical preservation office, asking them to oversee the sale of the building.”

The DBDA received notification on Friday that historical covenants will be placed on the deed. This designation establishes a mandate for a potential buyer to abide by all historical preservation regulations.

The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The above-mentioned value of the property will be affected by this designation and a new appraisal will need to be completed.

While the building will be protected under the historic designation, the fate of postal services in downtown Boone remains unclear.

A letter from the DBDA to the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office, dated Dec. 21, stated, “It is understood that USPS is committed to keeping a space in the building for the downtown postal service to remain. They are most likely requiring a long-term lease from the purchaser of the building.”

Enola Rice would not give a definite answer on the postal services, reiterating the agency is exploring all options.

The possibility of closure has sparked the interest of local government. The Watauga County Commission intends to pass a resolution requesting the preservation of the post office. A part of the county’s resolution will include a request that the Postal Service maintain a viable post office operation in this building after the sale.

During the last commissioners’ meeting, board member Mary Moretz suggested the county asked the Postal Service to consider either giving or selling the building to the county to preserve its historic character.

Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson also expressed her support of the Boone post office. “I want to preserve it for the downtown area. It is important that a part of the building remain a post office,” she said.

“Our priorities are number one water, and number two Howard Street, but we certainly want to be involved.”
The Boone Town Council has not met to discuss the sale of the building yet. The next council meeting is Thursday, however, the Boone post office does not appear on the agenda.

Jean Larimore doesn’t like the idea of a sale. The 79-year-old Boone resident spent Monday calling representatives at the state and federal level to make her voice heard. She called not only the elected officials, but also the realty company handling the sale and Enola Rice of the Postal Service.

“This is something to get excited about. Everyone should express their concerns as soon as possible,” she said.
Larimore has been using the downtown location since moving to Watauga County in 1964. “Boone has grown by leaps and bounds. It’s unreal what’s happened over the last 20 years, but the post office has been the same,” she said.

Larimore enjoys the downtown post office as both a convenience and great service.

After checking her mail, Larimore said she could cross the street for banking, stop in Boone Drug or Dancy Shoes. Most importantly for Larimore, it is personal service. “They know you. It is a beautiful old building with the same people working there,” she said. “I don’t know how anyone could think about closing this post office.”

The public comment period of the sale building ends on Jan. 28. Comments must be made in writing and sent to: Realty Asset Management, 160 Inverness Drive West, Suite 400, Englewood, CO 80112-5005, Attn: Gloria Charlson.

Comments may be sent via email to gloria.m.charlson@usps.gov or faxed to (651) 406-5816. As of Monday, Realty Asset Management had received one comment.