PORT TOWNSEND – A “for sale” sign might soon go up in front of the former U.S. Customs House on Washington Street, built in 1893, that has housed the post office since 1911.
“We’re considering it as a possibility, but it’s nothing imminent,” said Ernie Swanson, Seattle-based U.S. Postal Service spokesman.
The building – which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places – has been the focus of criticism in recent months because it is not accessible to the disabled.
Stone stairs lead to the entrance for those who want to do business at the counter or reach post office boxes inside.
Swanson said the reason the building is being considered for sale is not because of the accessibility issue.
“I don’t think that’s been a primary reason,” Swanson said.
He said a change is under consideration because of a desire to improve postal operations.
Packages are stored in the basement, now, and other functions are spread throughout the building.
Selling the historic building, “would get us into a building that would be more efficient,” Swanson said.
Swanson said that renovating the building for disability access would cost about $1 million.
Port Townsend resident Bonnie Bolster, who has multiple sclerosis, spearheaded an effort to make the post office accessible by organizing a petition drive and sending letters to state and federal policy makers.
Bolster was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.
If the decision is made to sell the building, either an existing building will be considered or land will be purchased to build a new post office, Swanson said.
Swanson didn’t know the approximate value of the building.
The Jefferson County Assessor’s Office didn’t have the property in their files, and so couldn’t give the value.
Swanson said U.S. Postal Service officials who specialize in real estate in Seattle and Denver recently came out to look at the building and to see if selling it would be beneficial.
Port Townsend residents who have special needs because of disabilities have been without an accessible post office since July, when the post office substation in downtown Port Townsend was closed.
The U.S. Postal Service has contracted with Shopgirls, 1117 Water St., to locate the substation there.
The hope was to have the postal service available at Shopgirls before the holidays, but “I think it’s not going to happen until after the first of the year,” Swanson said.
He said the employees at Shopgirls need to be trained to use the computer system.
