Concern is sweeping Brighton Beach as the area’s only post office is scheduled to close at the end of the year.
United States Postal Officials confirmed that the post office at 3157 Coney Island Avenue between Brighton Beach and Oceanview Avenues is scheduled to close Dec. 31, because the building’s owner will not renew their lease.
Should the post office close with no replacement, residents needing postal service will be forced to travel to the already overcrowded post office in Sheepshead Bay.
“This will be insane,” said Brighton Beach Association Executive Director Pat Singer. “I’ve had about a dozen seniors complain and this post office has been here since I moved here in 1964. We are a highly dense population with a large number of seniors and we need a post office in the neighborhood.”
Yelena Makhnin, executive director of the Bright Beach Business Improvement District, said she learned of the closure from somebody on the street and immediately called Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s office to see what can be done.
“It’s still not clear if they (USPS) can afford new rent and I was told they were looking for another space,” said Makhnin, adding there isn’t a lot of store space for rent around Brighton Beach.
“This is important because this is a very big business and residential area. It will be hard to have so many residents and businesses shlep to Sheepshead Bay,” she said.
Nadler spokesperson Ilan Kayatsky said the congressmember has spoken to USPS officials and intends to help them either negotiate with the landlord or find a suitable new space in the neighborhood.
USPS spokesperson Tom Gaynor confirmed the landlord does not want to renew the lease for the 1,600−square−foot space and said the agency is submitting a request for alternate quarters to the national headquarters in Washington.
“Then we wait to see what Washington says, and if they approve it we will look for alternate locations. If not, we will look for a contract postal unit [with a private business],” Gaynor said.
Gaynor said if the USPS opts for a contracted postal unit, they will look for one that exceeds normal hours.
