Fighting to Save the Old Chelsea Post Office

Recently, my office heard from a number of constituents concerned about the potential sale by the United States Postal Service (USPS) of the Old Chelsea Station, which is located at 217 West 18th Street. They had seen a letter posted in the station’s lobby from USPS to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) seeking input on a Preservation Covenant for the building, which is listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places, in the event that it is sold. I confirmed that the aforementioned letter was not, as many had feared, an indication that sale of the building is imminent. USPS did indicate that it is seeking to sell the building and relocate to a smaller space within the community that would provide equivalent services; however, its regulations stipulate that such a move could only occur after an extensive public review process. I have been working with the offices of U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney to clarify USPS’s plans and will be fighting alongside them and other local elected officials and community members to save our postal facility, the services it provides, and the historic building that houses it.