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USPS to build new facility
(by Kathryn A. Burger - February 27, 2008)
The post office on Park Avenue will have a new landlord – the borough. At the Feb. 12 meeting, the council approved Ordinance 2008-01 on second and final reading, authorizing the purchase of the property and building.
As reported, late last year, the council approved Ordinance 2007-24 that authorized the borough to issue $1,220,000 in bond anticipation notes to finance the purchase.
Gene Vinci, the borough administrator, said that procedurally, “the only thing left is to have the closing and have the lease reassigned to the borough.” Vinci said the borough will collect $103,000 per year in rent and that the anticipated term of the lease will be three years.
New PO on USPS property
In a related development, Vinci said the US Postal Service (USPS) is now actively planning the construction of a new postal facility on property it has owned for several years located west of the current building on Park Avenue. Vinci said, “It will be a nicer facility, not much larger than the current one and parking will be much better because it will be located on a larger piece of property.”
The USPS is not required to get planning board approval for the new building, but will submit the plans to the planning board next month, “as a courtesy,” Vinci said, adding that the borough expects the new building to, “blend into the character of the borough.”
It is not known when construction of the new post office will begin, but it is anticipated that it will be completed before the expiration of the new, three-year lease with the borough. Vinci said if the USPS vacates the building prior to end of the lease, they will continue to pay rent for its duration.
Three years from now
The borough has not decided how to best use the property once the post office vacates. Vinci said there are many options, including selling the property; converting the building to a senior or community center; and knocking down the building and using the property for parking, among them.
The closing on the sale and the reassignment of the lease should take place in the near future.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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