Postal Service wants to move out of downtown Iowa City

IOWA CITY – Iowa City's main post office will move from near downtown to the southeast side of town if the U.S. Postal Service has its way.

The city announced Friday that the Postal Service has picked a spot east of the Kmart in Pepperwood Plaza off Highway 6 as its preferred site. It's second choice would be nearby at 1925 Boyrum St.

Either location would go against the comments made by USPS officials this summer that the agency planned to stay in the same area as the current location at 400 S. Clinton St.

A Postal Service spokesman and city officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment Friday afternoon.

At a public meeting in August, Angela Kuhl, real estate specialist at the USPS, said the Clinton Street location was 26,000 square feet  and cost $700,000 a year in rent but the agency needs just 16,000 square feet.

In a recent news release, the USPS said it expected to lose about $6 billion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Either of the proposed southeast side locations “will provide the community with an upgraded, modern facility that offers a safe working environment for our employees and the level of service expected by our customers,” Kuhl wrote in Oct. 17 letter to Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek, according to a city of Iowa City news release.

The city has 30 days to respond to the proposal and is accepting public comments through Nov.1 by any of the following methods:

• Visit www.icgov.org/postoffice

• E-mail comments to Council@iowa-city.org

• Mail written comments to City Hall, Attn: City Clerk, 410 E. Washington St, Iowa City, Iowa 52240

• Drop off written comments to a special feedback box in the City Hall.

The city of Coralville is fighting the proposed relocation of its post office.