The United States Postal Service on Tuesday revealed the four options it’s looking at for a replacement for the White Flint Mall Post Office.
In a letter (see below) to Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Director Ken Hartman, USPS real estate specialist Rick Hancock wrote that a Site Review Committee officially ruled out staying or relocating within White Flint Mall.
“The Mall redevelopment will not be completed for 2-3 years,” Hancock wrote. “It is not an operationally feasible or economically viable alternative to operate a Postal facility in a construction redevelopment site.”
The Committee also apparently looked at, then ruled out Metro Pike Center. It’s slated for redevelopment.
The four options still on the table, and subject to a 30-day public commenting period are:
– 5420 Edson Lane
– 5000-5060 Nicholson Lane (Nicholson Plaza)
– 11760 Parklawn Drive — (Parklawn Commerce Center)
– 11601-11631 Nebel Street — (Flint Hill Building)
All four of the sites are in the 20852 zip code. Thanks to a bizarrely drawn zip code map, the existing White Flint Mall post office is in the Kensington zip of 20895. Many in the urbanizing White Flint area would like a zip code of their own.
Hancock has said the main concerns for a new post office building are finding a five-year lease and a site with enough parking and access for mail trucks.
See the letter for instructions on how to submit comments.
Meanwhile, there has been no progress on finding a location for a second Bethesda post office. Hartman reports the Postal Service is still looking for a site that is both economically viable and operationally feasible.
PDF: Dec. 10 White Flint Post Office letter
