THOMPSON: USPS LISTS NAPA POST OFFICE FOR SALE, DEMOLITION NOT BEING PERSUED
At Thompson’s Urging, USPS is pursuing sale of Historic Franklin Station Post Office instead of its demolition
Washington, D.C. – October 8, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has listed the Historic Franklin Station Post Office in downtown Napa for sale. The property has been placed on multiple real estate listing databases (link is external). In August, the USPS agreed at Thompson’s urging to stop pursuing the demolition of the Historic Franklin Station Post Office in downtown Napa and instead pursue the sale of the earthquake-damaged building and property with the stipulation that the buyer would repair the building in accordance with all applicable laws and protective covenants intended to preserve the architectural integrity of the building. The Franklin Station Post Office is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Selling the post office is the best way to preserve this historic structure, and I am very pleased that USPS and Postmaster General Brennan are working with me and our community to save the property,” said Thompson. “The Franklin Station Post Office is one of our community’s crown jewels. It’s a beautiful part or our history and no one wanted to see it destroyed. By selling the post office, we can make sure this wonderful structure is around for many generations to enjoy.”
There will be an advertising email campaign to the Bay Area commercial real estate community and a “For Sale” sign is placed on the building. There is no price listed because the sale will be done through a bidding process.
Prospective Buyers must contact the CBRE Brokerage team in order to schedule a tour. Tours will be conducted October 26, November 9, and November 16. Prospective Buyers may also bring consultants, appraisers and other relevant personnel on these tours.
Prospective buyers can contact Don LeBuhn at (415)772-0248/
Withn 30 days after the marketing and touring period concludes, CBRE will announce a “Call for Offer” date and bidding instructions will be communicated to all interested parties. All bids must be submitted by the deadline and will subsequently be evaluated by USPS.
In August, the USPS submitted a letter to California’s State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) requesting a permit to demolish the post office. However, Thompson led an effort to find an alternative solution. Thompson discussed the potential sale of the historic post office with Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan and hosted a meeting with USPS officials in his Washington, D.C. office. He led the effort to involve the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, which will now act as a consulting party in the consultation process the USPS initiated with SHPO under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
The Franklin Station Post Office was commissioned in 1933 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), a federal agency tasked with carrying out public works projects which employed millions of out-of-work Americans. The ornate post office was built in the art deco architectural style.
The USPS originally proposed to demolish the building due to the cost of repairing damage caused by the August 2014 earthquake.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
