United States Post Office (Berkeley, California)

The U.S. Post Office, also known as the Berkeley Main Post Office, is a local branch of the United States Postal Service. The building, located at 2000 Allston Way[note 1] Berkeley, California, was built in 1914-15.[note 2][2]The building has been described as a "free adaptation of Brunelleschi's Foundling Hospital."[3] Designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style, the front of the building features terra cotta arches supported by plain tuscan columns.[4][note 3]

U.S. Post Office
Coordinates37°52′8″N 122°16′13″W
Built1914
Built byVan Sant-Houghton, Co.
NRHP reference No.81000144[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 14, 1984

The Post Office is within the Civic Center Historic District, a five block area listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[note 4] The district is a locally significant ensemble of harmoniously planned civic buildings that retains a high degree of integrity since achieving significance in 1950. The post office, along with the "Old" City Hall (1909) in the Beaux-Arts style, is among the earliest and the most decorative of the thirteen buildings in the district.[5]

The architect is unknown but Oscar Wenderoth is listed on the cornerstone as he was director of the Office of the Supervising Architect that designed this and many other federal government buildings. The floor space doubled with the completion of the annex in 1932. A few years later, the Treasury Relief Art Project commissioned a sculpture and a mural for the lobby. Both are well-preserved examples of the styles, subjects and dominant themes of New Deal Art.[2] The post office was designated Berkeley Landmark No. 38 on June 16, 1980 by the Landmarks Preservation Commission[6] and added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 1981.[1]

Current status

Financial problems fueled by onerous Congressional legislation[7] which introduced an unsustainable debt load without acknowledging revenue dynamics[8] prompted a national sale of underused and often aging real estate owned by the USPS. Dozens of properties had been sold despite protests from local communities.[9] The postal service issued a statement that "sales of historic postal properties have been very modest: 7 in 2012 and 6 in 2013." They identified 1,900 properties that are listed or could be considered for listing on the National Register of Historic Places out of 9,000 properties owned by USPS.[10] In 2014, the USPS Office of Inspector General sought an independent review certain appraisals to ensure that they "were representative of the fair market value." [11]

In 2013, the post office was listed for sale with a possible leaseback of the lobby to continue providing postal service. Opponents staged a 33-day encampment on its steps while the City Council unanimously voted to oppose the sale and unsuccessfully sought a one-year delay.[12]

In November, 2014, Postal Officials announced a tentative sales agreement to a local developer.[13] First They Came for the Homeless immediately established a 2nd occupation on the exterior grounds, the City of Berkeley filed a lawsuit against the sale, the seller withdrew, and in April 2015 Federal District Judge Alsup dismissed the case on the basis of the Postal Service's declaration that no sale was pending. The 2nd occupation lasted until April, 12th, 2016 at which time Postal Police cleared the protest.[14]

Images and art of the Berkeley Post Office

See also

Notes
  1. Nomination Form and other sources show address as 2000 Milvia Street.
  2. Contract was let in April 1914. Postal workers occupied building in September 1915.
  3. Second Renaissance Revival is often used to describe details common to 1910s post offices all over the country.
  4. Berkeley Historic Civic Center District listed December 3, 1998.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Berkeley Main Post Office". National Park Service. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. "The Berkeley Post Office - an Example of the New Public Building Policy" Architect and Engineer, San Francisco, CA. October 1915, quoted in "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form"
  4. "UNITED STATES POST OFFICE" Berkeley Historical Plaque Project Accessed 11 December 2013
  5. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Berkeley Historic Civic Center District # 98000963". National Park Service. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  6. "Berkeley Landmarks" Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association Accessed 13 December 2013
  7. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr6407
  8. https://about.usps.com/news/testimony/2017/pr17_pmg0207.htm
  9. Romney, Lee (December 7, 2013) "Berkeley making the rounds to save its historic post office" Los Angeles Times
  10. Romney, Lee (April 18, 2014) "Historic preservation agency seeks halt in post office sales" Los Angeles Times
  11. Romney, Lee (February 20, 2014) "Inspector general questions Postal Service property sales, leases" Los Angeles Times
  12. Lee, Seung Y. (February 24, 2015). "Berkeley Preservationists Continue Legal Battle Over Main Post Office". Berkeleyside via KQED News. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  13. Taylor, Tracey (November 5, 2014). "Exclusive: Local developer Hudson McDonald in contract to buy downtown Berkeley Post Office". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  14. DINZEO, MARIA (January 12, 2018). "Trial Unlikely in Fight Over Berkeley Post Office". Courthouse News. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
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