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downtown post office
By Melanie Davis
melanie@mountaintimes.com

The U.S. Postal Service is advancing to the second stage in the sale of the downtown Boone post office. The public comment period ended Monday, with Realty Asset Management in Colorado receiving 113 written statements and 11 phone calls.

Enola Rice, N.C. spokesperson for the Postal Service, said the vast majority of comments were requesting postal services be maintained at the current location. Rice also said a handful of potential buyers contacted Realty Asset Management during the comment period. Buyers’ comments are not being reviewed at this time.

Rice explained the Postal Service cannot discuss those comments due to the stage at which the process stands.

The building has not yet been appraised and a request for proposals has not been issued.

“All written comments will be reviewed and a response sent back to citizens,” Rice said.

The Postal Service has now solicited clearance from the State Historic Preservation group for the sale of the building. This step is required for buildings on the historic register. Once approval is received, the Postal Service will proceed with a broker to solicit a buyer.

Meanwhile, a group of town and county officials, private citizens, members of the Boone Historic Preservation Commission, Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA), Watauga Arts Council, Boone Development Services, Boone Area Planning Commission, High Country Council of Governments (COG), and the town and county managers attended an informational meeting at the Watauga Public Library on Monday.

The purpose of the meeting, hosted by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), was to gather factual information and discuss options for maintaining the post office and protecting the historic building.

“By gathering all interested parties we were able to sort facts from rumors and coordinate our efforts,” said Janet Pepin, meeting moderator and member of HPC and the Boone Town Council.

The first step in the two-hour meeting was to establish what is known about the building. The information that will be important in the preparation of a proposal to purchase the property.

The building was constructed in 1938 using native stone by the Works Progress Administration, a government agency designed to provide jobs in rural areas during the Great Depression era. The land on which the building sets was seized by eminent domain for $7,000.

The post office also features one of only 38 New Deal murals left in North Carolina. The mural, created by Alan Tompkins, depicts Daniel Boone. Tuesdae Rice, director of the DBDA, has described the mural as an “integral part of Boone’s cultural fabric.”

The list of known features and uses continued with several items, including the student tours, consideration of long-term patrons and the building’s designation as a fallout shelter in the 1950s.

The group then moved onto to discussing what has been done thus far in protecting the building. This includes resolutions passed by both the town council and county commission requesting postal services remain. Actions taken by the DBDA to ensure historic covenants are added to the deed have been successful.

The Postal Service has confirmed covenants will in place prior to the sale.

Chuck Watkins, HPC member and director of the Appalachian Cultural Museum, said he has requested a private contractor to create a proposal outlining the costs associated with restoration of the murals in the post office. This is not a contractual agreement to be paid for by any of the agencies involved. Watkins said he is simply trying to determine a ballpark figure for restoration as a factor in costs associated with the building’s upkeep and maintenance.

The first option of taking no action did not receive a single comment in favor. The second option of attempting to stop the sale also did not receive any favor with the group.

“There is very little we would be able to do to stop the Postal Service from selling this building,” Pepin said. “The only positive of this option would be a possible delay to give interested parties more time to examine options.”

The third option investigated the possibility of a private investor purchasing the building. This option presented many pros and cons. Once in the hands of a private person or entity, the potential is present for loss of postal services and subdivision. The value of the land versus the value of the building is apparent. Tax records show the land value as $830,500 and the building as $202,800. The historic covenants protect the facade and historic pieces, but do not prevent additions or control the use of the building. According to Pepin, those present at the meeting accepted this as an option, but expressed an interest in pursuing other avenues first.

The fourth option is to request the transfer of the building to local government, either the town of Boone, Watauga County or COG, in exchange for a free lease to the Postal Service to maintain services in that location.

Boone municipal staff members had located documents setting a precedent for the transfer of property. The Postal Service offered the building to the town at the price of $1 in the 1960s. That offer was declined at that time.

This is the ideal option, Pepin pointed out, noting the Postal Service is a for-profit institution. It is possible the Postal Service may not accept transfer proposals.

The final option presented was the purchase of the property as a local government entity with or without co-ownership among the town of Boone, Watauga County, COG, etc. The pros of this option are evident – the Postal Services receives funds and the property is protected with a post office in place and other possible income generating functions.

Once government ownership is established, a non-profit may be designated to manage the facility, similar to the Jones House model. The Jones House is owned by the town of Boone and managed by the Watauga Arts Council.

The problems presented include purchase cost, co-ownership legalities, building maintenance and restoration costs, and no guarantee the Postal Service would continue its lease.

The organizations represented at the meeting will be further investigating details and budgets over the coming weeks. The financial feasibility is an obstacle requiring further attention.

A request for proposals is expected to be announced by the Postal Service in early March.