Rent Issues Force USPS To Close Prince Street Post Office

Left photograph of Prince Street P.O. by 66 Square Feet; right photograph of the Canal Street P.O. by Jen Chung

The much-maligned yet convenient Prince Street Post Office (which later moved to Greene Street) closed last week. Of course, the location's P.O. Box customers only found out about the closing when they were greeted by the sign directing them to pick up packages at the Canal Street station.

Previously, the USPS was trying to renegotiate their lease, but apparently that didn't end well: USPS spokeswoman Darleen Reid told us, "We are not renewing lease at Prince Street since the offer from the landlord is well above fair market value. We continue to look for alternate quarters." Rumor has it that the USPS was paying $60/square foot, while the landlord wanted closer to three times that. Sean Sweeney of the SoHo Alliance, which advocated "The Worst Post Office is Better Than No Post Office!," thinks asking that much for the space, especially since it's on "a side street with no display window and up steps," seems "absurd."

The USPS offered us a list of 14 other PO's customers can go to (the list is after the jump) and adds, "Customers are also encouraged to visit our website at usps.com, where they purchase stamps, print postage, locate a post office, track a package, even schedule a free package pick-up. Usps.com is a virtual post office at their fingertips."

Customers can take advantage of our alternate access strategies as well as the 14 other Post Offices within a one mile radius of the Prince Street Station and conveniently accessible via public transportation.
The Post Offices are:
1. Canal Street Station
350 Canal St
New York, NY 10013
2. Village Station
201 Varick St
New York, NY 10014
3. Patchin Station
70 W 10th St
New York, Ny 10011
4. Cooper Station
93 4th Ave
New York, NY 10003
5. Federal Plaza
12 Barclay Street
New York, NY 10007
6. West Village
527 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
7. Chinatown
6 Dayers Street
New York, NY 10013
8. Knickerbocker Station
128 E Broadway
New York, NY 10002
9. Pitt Station
185 Clinton St
New York, NY 10002
10. Thompkins Square
244 E 3rd St
New York NY, 10009
11. Peter Stuyvesant Station
432 E 14th St
New York, NY 10009
12. Wall Street Station
90 Church St
New York NY 10007
13. Old Chelsea Station
217 W 18th St
New York, NY 10011
14. Peck Slip Station
1 Peck Slip
New York, NY 10038

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on June 10, 2009 5:21 PM

Comments [rss]

Manitoba

So, the government can seize property from individuals if it's for stuff like the Nets' stadium or Yankees but not a post office?

The federal government should offer the landlord $1/sq ft, and if he doesn't like it, they can take the property on a whim, or they could just audit him to death. Seems to work most any other time.

ngan hang

I think government's right .

http://nganhangonline.com

r1b2

It's an annex for the Apple Store. That was among the worst post offices in the City. I think they hired people with histories of terrible head wounds.

Mr Mel

" Rumor has it that the USPS was paying $60/square foot, while the landlord wanted closer to three times that."

Not to worry, tomorrow at the landlord's home post office, there will be a draft notice.

ANGRYGOD11

Brilliant joke, if this was 1973.

mihow

Maybe this one will be turned into an Apple store as well.

dirty hipster

DOYERS street.

ipodipoor

its 6 Doyer Street. It's in Chinatown near Bowery Street. Also this Post Office branch hours have been reduced. It's open from 10am to 5:30pm.

Then again, they could just rent that space the Apple Store...