Yet Another Bronx Post Office to Close: Oak Point Station

Another Bronx post office -- the Oak Point Station, located at 839 East 149th St. -- is going to close. 

According to a press release from the United States Postal Service, the Oak Point post office will close its doors on April 22.  “Given the extraordinary decline in mail volume — a decline of nearly 26 billion pieces last year alone — we must take action to reduce the size of our retail and delivery network,” said William Schnaars, the New York district manager

Two weeks ago, the USPS announced the Crotona Park Post Office will also be closing on April 22.

Spokesperson Darleen Reid said that since December 2009, the Crotona Park, Oak Point, and Van Nest offices have been on the consolidation list. The Van Nest Post Office, located at 715 Morris Park Ave., could be the next branch to close. She said that the decision should be made in the coming weeks.

The USPS assured us that postal employees who work at Crotona Park and Oak Point will be reassigned, not laid off.

Reid also said the USPS is considering moving the mail processing unit of the Bronx General Post Office to Morgan Distribution Center in Manhattan. The retail unit there would remain open in the Bronx. Reid said the USPS is still in the study phase and it will probably take another six months before making a decision.

For now, Reid said, customers wishing to conduct postal business at a local retail office can continue to do so at the following alternative sites:
--Hub Station, 633 Saint Ann’s Ave, Bronx NY 10455
--Mott Haven Station, 517 East 139th St, Bronx NY 10454
--Hunts Point Station, 800 Manida St, Bronx NY 10474
--Melcourt Station, 754 Melrose Ave, Bronx NY 10451
--Bronx General Post Office, 558 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY10451

In a press release, Bronx Congressman Jose E. Serrano said he sent a letter yesterday to the Postmaster General, saying "the plan to consolidate and close postal facilities in the Bronx was an unwise idea that unfairly impacts the Bronx community." A full text of the letter is below and after the jump:

Crotona Park Post Office to Close April 22; More Bronx Closures Loom

By Rachel Sander

The United States Postal Service has decided to close the Bronx’s Crotona Park Post Office at 1682 Boston Road and a spokesperson warned that more closures could be on the way.

Van Nest Post Office at 715 Morris Park Ave., Oak Point at 839 East 149 Street, as well as the processing unit of the Bronx General Post Office on 149th and Grand Concourse are all on the "consolidation" list, which means they are on the chopping block. A decision could be made on Van Nest and Oak Point in a matter of weeks, but spokesperson Darleen Reid said the decision on whether or not to close the Bronx processing plant was still more than six months away.  

Last week, the Norwood News reported on the reopening of the Mosholu Post Office on Jerome Avenue. At the end of the article, Reid said: “The public should know we are looking at stations and branches nationwide and in the Bronx for closures. The volume of mail is plummeting and we need to save money any way we can and one way we can do this is by consolidation.”

Today, Reid confirmed Crotona Park Station will close on April 22. Reid assured us that a public service announcement will be made to inform the public of closure on website and posted at the office. She said this decision is final.