United States Post Office (Berkeley, California)

U.S. Post Office
Coordinates 37°52′8″N 122°16′13″W / 37.86889°N 122.27028°W / 37.86889; -122.27028Coordinates: 37°52′8″N 122°16′13″W / 37.86889°N 122.27028°W / 37.86889; -122.27028
Built 1914
Built by Van Sant-Houghton, Co.
NRHP Reference # 81000144[1]
Added to NRHP August 14, 1984

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

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.[4] 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

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.[7]

In November, 2014, Postal Officials announced a tentative sales agreement to a local developer.[8] 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.

Financial problems have prompted a national sale of underused and often aging real estate owned by the USPS. Dozens of properties had been recently sold despite similar 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 have 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]

Images and art of the Berkeley Post Office
Exterior of the Post Office
Exterior of the Post Office 
Mural and wood work surrounding the elevator
Mural and wood work surrounding the elevator 
sculpture on east side of main entrance. Signed: David Slivka, 1937
Sculpture on east side of main entrance. Signed: David Slivka, 1937 

Notes

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

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "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"
  3. ↑ "UNITED STATES POST OFFICE" Berkeley Historical Plaque Project Accessed 11 December 2013
  4. 1 2 "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Berkeley Main Post Office" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Berkeley Historic Civic Center District # 98000963" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Berkeley Landmarks" Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association Accessed 13 December 2013
  7. ↑ Lee, Seung Y. (February 24, 2015). "Berkeley Preservationists Continue Legal Battle Over Main Post Office". Berkeleyside via KQED News. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  8. ↑
  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
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