Closing of Downtown Ward 7 Post Office Proposed

Community meeting, held at Height/Benning Library, 11/10/11

At a community meeting last night, Nov. 10, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced its proposal to close the Post Office located at 3937-1/2 Benning Road, NE. This proposal is part of a national plan to downsize USPS due to falling revenues. This announcement follows a “feasibility study” period by the USPS. A 60-day comment period is NOW UNDERWAY. For the full story, including updates, look for December’s East of the River.

Key elements in the proposal, still under study, are:

• The Post Office in East River Park would close, sometime after the first of the 2012;
• Post office boxes currently offered at East River Park would relocate to Northeast Post Office, 1563 Maryland, NE (Hechinger Mall), about 2 miles away, at the same size and same fees;
• Street delivery functions would be relocated to 3621 Benning Road, NE. This is not a customer facility;
• Customers would need to conduct retail functions — stamp purchases, e.g. — at Northeast or another location.

Stamps are currently available for purchase at many locations — CVS, Safeway, Giant, banks — as well as on-line, by phone and through the mail. The nearest additional full service Post Offices are as follows:

• Randle, 2341 Pennsylvania, SE (2.3 miles)
• Fort Davis, 3843 Pennsylvania, SE (2.5 miles)
• Capitol Heights, 6089 Central Avenue, Capitol Heights (2.6 miles)
• Frederick Douglas, 2833 Alabama Avenue, SE (3.0 miles).

Following the 60-day comment period, there will be a “determination.” If closing is recommended at that time, a “closeout” period will begin.

The USPS encourages customers to submit impact statements at this time: How and how often do you use the Post Office at East River Park? How would closing affect your regular routine? Would it pose a hardship for you or your neighbors? Do you envision other impacts for the neighborhood?

Comments may be sent to:

Donalda E. Moss
District Discontinuance Coordinator
900 Brentwood, NE
Washington, DC 20066-7300

A number of local leaders are working on this issue. Check back here and at East of the River for updates. A copy of the proposal will be posted here as soon as it’s available.

UPDATE: here are the proposal basics. A copy of the proposal, as promised at the November 10 meeting, was still no made available to citizens as of November 23, although one copy is pinned to a bulletin board at the post office, 3937-1/2 Benning Road, NE.

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