USPS Puts Berkeley's Landmark Post Office Up For Sale
BERKELEY (KCBS) — The U.S. Postal Service put Berkeley's landmarked main post office on the market on Tuesday despite major objections from city officials and long struggle with community activists.
Berkeley city leaders said they may be prepared to sue the USPS over its plans to sell the iconic main post office—a 1914 Renaissance Revival-style building—at 2000 Alston Way.
"The post office has handled this in the worst possible way," Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said. "They can't put the building up for sale because they haven't finished the process."
USPS Puts Berkeley's Landmark Post Office Up For Sale
Since the USPS announced its intention to sell the building in June 2012, there has been local, state, and federal opposition.
Bates said the postal service can't sell the building until the state determines that the sale will not imperil the structure's elaborate exterior and interior murals.
USPS told KCBS that it can sell the building but they might want to lease part of it for a smaller walk-up postal facility.
The price for the building had not been listed.
The Berkeley City Council is considering suing the postal service to stop any sale from going forward.
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