Northfield Post Office for sale sign is up

6 Comments

  1. Griff:
    Not sure what you meant when you said that having the for sale sign up is good news.

    Want to elaborate on that?

    February 23, 2012
  2. Dan Bergeson said:

    Interesting to note that the realtor puts up a for sale sign the same week that the seller receives a letter from another federal agency telling it that it hasn’t followed federal regulations regarding property disposal and it isn’t free to even list the property until it complies. It’s also somewhat amusing that the online property listing refers to the property as a “former” post office. Truth in advertising?

    February 23, 2012
  3. john george said:

    As a line in a cartoon I cut out years ago stated, “…marketing and honesty don’t necessarily go hand in hand.”

    February 23, 2012
  4. Griff Wigley said:

    Hayes, I think it’s time to move on and the sign helps convey to the community that there’s now an urgent opportunity. The Northfield Roundtable’s summary of Feb. 3-4 workshop that focused on the Bridge Square area says it well (Bill = urban designer Bill Johnson):

    While the focus of the workshop was on the greater Bridge Square area and not solely on the post office building, it was not surprising based on recent movement on the sale of the building that many participants at the Saturday morning session asked questions and expressed concerns about the future use of the post office building.

    Bill noted that the building has offered a vital service to many people over several generations. Our community’s challenge now is to imagine and implement ways to extend this building’s key role in our downtown for generations to come. Doing so will benefit the entire area and the residents who live, work, shop and play here. The impact of the post office building’s reincarnation will be felt throughout Northfield for the next 50 years.

    This is a rare and sizeable opportunity for the community, perhaps through a public and private joint venture, to redevelop a keystone property for the long-term well being of the whole community. Bill and several others noted the urgency to communicate the thoughts that emerged from the workshop and to encourage securing the building in “friendly hands.”

    February 28, 2012
  5. Griff:

    I agree, with Bill’s comment 100%. The site is a huge opportunity. And yes, the community does need to move forward and things are.

    However, the sign is premature. The USPS is not following their proper closing procedures, a Section 106 review. Yes,the HPC has some power over protecting the historical nature of the building, but the USPS, needs to follow the proper federal regulations when selling or disposing of a building.

    I am excited to see what will happen with the property. But I want to make sure the historical integrity of the building is saved. Right now that is threatened.

    February 28, 2012
  6. Griff Wigley said:

    Okay, Hayes, that makes sense. Keep us posted.

    Maybe the HPC should make contingency plans for an “Occupy the Post Office” protest?

    February 29, 2012

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