The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Looking for 11,000 square feet
[ By Mark Reaman ]
The town of Crested Butte has been in contact with U.S. Postal Service officials and will be trying to help the USPS representatives relocate the Crested Butte Post Office to a larger facility somewhere in town.
Crested Butte town manager Dara MacDonald told the council on Monday, May 2 that she had spoken “to a real human” in the USPS chain of command and the real estate person said the USPS was beginning the public process of moving buildings since the lease on the current Elk Avenue facility expires in 2026 and the understanding is that it won’t be renewed. The new post office location would be somewhere in the 81224 zip code, which technically could be considered anywhere from Round Mountain up to Crested Butte including CB South.
“They would like to move to another building in town and will be looking for feedback from citizens,” MacDonald said. “Residents should expect to receive an informational postcard soon explaining the public process.”
USPS strategic communications specialist out of Denver James Boxrud told the Crested Butte News last week that the postal service had conducted a ‘Constrained Space Study’ which didn’t pass standards and determined the current facility was not large enough to serve the 81224 zip code area’s growing population. He indicated the ideal sized facility would be about 11,000 square feet. The current building is about 3,373 square feet.
“We don’t want to move to or build a space that works today, but then we outgrow quickly,” he said. “We want to prepare for the eventuality of future growth as well. This will all have to go through the USPS real estate specialist.”
Boxrud said the USPS initially tries to lease existing buildings but if nothing appropriate can be found the USPS could purchase land and construct a building.
Crested Butte councilmember Mallika Magner suggested the town take an official response position to the USPS over the move. Mayor Ian Billick said that since the USPS had indicated they would not be holding a public meeting due to COVID concerns, the council could provide such a conduit for public feedback.
