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Shuttered Allston post office could be torn down to make way for apartments
By adamg on Wed, 08/10/2022 - 2:17pm
A developer says it will soon file detailed plans for a 170-unit apartment building on Harvard Avenue to replace the post office shut in 2019 and neighboring parking lots.
In a letter of intent filed with the BPDA, Eden Properties of Allston says it is looking at whether the postal service could move into the ground-floor retail space it's proposing for a building that would rise between four and six stories at 25-39 Harvard Ave.
In December, Eden paid $5.5 million for the decaying post-office building, which sits on about half the proposed 1.1 acre sit it would use for the new building. The rest currently houses a couple of one-story commercial buildings and parking lots.
Eden says its plan will include more affordable units than required by the city. It's proposing 60 parking spaces - and 4,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.
If the project wins approval, it would be the latest to transform the area of Harvard Avenue and Cambridge Street from a largely commercial area to a largely residential one.
City Realty has approval to tear down or remodel several buildings at the intersection of the two streets to add 344 apartments and condos - and more than 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Part of City Realty's project extends to Linden Street, where the owner of the former Garage nightclub plans to tear that down for a 349-unit complex.
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Comments
How can they just shut a PO and not replace it?
Seems like there would still be a need. Where does all the 02134 mail go now?
Somebody from Allston will know better ...
But when they shut the post office in 2019, they shifted everything to the Brighton PO.
worse than that
it's delivered by downtown. We go to Brighton for sending. If something can't be delivered, it goes to Brighton so we can pick up. We were promised a local PO to replace the one structurally damaged but nothing yet.
Allston mail
Yeah, basically we in Allston are pretty much hosed as far as post office services go. The Brighton branch does at least have a 24-hour drop for packages. Coolidge Corner or Harvard Square are both also not-too-far options. I have no idea where I'd have to go if I had to pick up a package or some such - presumably Brighton. Are there other neighborhoods in Boston that don't have a PO branch within walking distance?
Speaking of postal issues, the mailbox nearest to my house was moved a few feet to accommodate the installation of one of those hundreds of new handicap ramps last year, but it wasn't bolted/cemented into place, so now it's just perched on the old bolts begging to be tipped over. Doesn't exactly make me feel confident about dropping mail there.
0-2-1-3-4
send it to ZOOM
Recent sighting
I saw a guy at a concert a couple weeks ago with a shirt that simply read, "02134" on the front. I asked him, "Why Allston?" He said, "Well I live in Allston, but the shirt is from Zoom."
Worked at the…
.. Brookline Station so know a bit about this from scuttlebutt. The Allston PO was a crumbling wreck. When they closed it the intention was to either repair or replace it completely. Problems with one of the abutters, plus rising costs got in the way of that. However, the monthly bid sheets still list openings for Allston. For now, those people work out of Brighton. Who knows what DeJoy has in mind, but the plan was to keep the station there. So the developer may get his wish about the ground floor. The old station had carriers, though. If they wanted to continue that and not just be a retail unit, they would need space for parking, deliveries, and loading and all that good stuff, not just some ground floor space.
Such a shame. Here they can
Such a shame. Here they can convert an old post office to useful housing, yet in west Roxbury they have to preserve some random style of architecture that’s not even historic instead of building affordable housing. Because empty post offices are more important than desperately needed housing
Update: Check today's uHub posts
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Wuuuuuuuuut?
No life sciences?! Must be some confusion
Put a Stamp On It
Remember when working for the Post Office was a respectable career? Now the employees look like homeless bums, the stores look like they belong in some 3rd world mall and the folks that work there have zero interest in serving the public. Shut the entire operation down.
Speak for yourself.
Speak for yourself.
Weird
That's not my experience at all. Not every postal employee is an outgoing goodwill ambassador type, but I can't fault their professionalism and efficiency.
You must not live in Boston
Half of the carriers don't even wear a uniform any longer. The other half look like they have not washed or replaced their uniform since the day they were hired.
Maybe before you berate
Maybe before you berate someone for their job, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
I've been doing this job for over 35 years and one thing every mail route has in common is that one asshole who thinks they know everything about the job.
^^Triggered^^
Lol, I see what you did there though and appreciate the pun. Stop by any of the inner city branches and you will see for yourself.
You think you can do better?
You think you can do better?
They're hiring.
www.USPS.com/careers
Postal Office people are the
Postal Office people are the most consistently helpful of any government employees I interact with.
Oh do I have a story about the Allston PO
I lived in Allston and we were going weeks without getting our mail. This was back in 2011 when paper bills were still default and I had to opt us into e-billing.
I went to complain and see if there was any in the post office being held for us, etc. The manager came out and screamed at me that there was a substitute letter carrier and "it's not the carrier's job to figure out which mail goes into which mailbox" so shut up and stop complaining. I was like, THAT IS EXACTLY HIS JOB.
I will say, I've generally gotten satisfactory service at every other post office I've been to, in the entire US. But that guy was awful.
It not their job to "figure
It not their job to "figure out" where it goes. If you don't put your name and everyone else's name on the box or refuse to use unit numbers, what do you think is going to happen? Especially when the regular is not on the route?
Predictable Response
You just made my case Mr/Mrs. Postal Worker, thank you!
Hm, your employer begs to differ
https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Why-was-my-mailpiece-returned-for-a-missi...
If there are names on the boxes or there's a building directory, they're supposed to.