Postal Service Twists the Law to Sell Berkeley’s 1914 Main Post Office
How to Get Away with Destroying America’s Heritage
Under Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, the U.S. Postal Service has become proficient at disposing of historic post offices. The USPS flouts the intention of U.S. preservation laws and relies upon the difficulty and expense of challenging a government agency in court. Berkeley’s historic Main Post Office has been threatened for over two years by the USPS and this month the USPS moved closer to selling 2000 Allston Way.
On September 24, 2014, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) wrote to the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to advise that the California State Historic Preservation Officer, the City of Berkeley, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the California Preservation Foundation do not agree with the finding of the USPS that there will be no adverse effect on historic properties from the sale of Berkeley’s Downtown Post Office at 2000 Allston Way. The USPS requested that the ACHP “issue an opinion as to whether the adverse effect criteria have been correctly applied.”
Based on USPS past practice, this request to the ACHP indicates that the USPS is moving forward to sell Berkeley’s Main Post Office.
When the ACHP replies the USPS is required to respond but is not required to comply with the ACHP recommendations. Once the USPS issues their response there is no further administrative remedy. To say it plainly, USPS can sell 2000 Allston Way.
The ACHP currently intends to issue their response on Friday, October 24, 2014.
The USPS is proposing that the USPS will hold a covenant over the property to make sure that the sale does not affect the historic features of the building. Given the recent conduct of the USPS, this is surely a case of trusting the fox to guard the hen house.
How to Get Away with Destroying America’s Heritage – Save the Berkeley Post Office