29 replies to this topic

[Ron Payne]

Not so much to look at from the outside, but I took a few shots of the inside - what a beauty! Obviously from the days when USPS was an insanely rich government agency rather than the shell it is now!







I presume a nod to 'Cowtown' at the tops of the exterior columns...


A flashback to the Cold War days - kind of funny now, although if Iran goes crazy on us (crazier?), good to know it's right next door!

[JBB]

Not so much to look at from the outside

Surely you jest! It's just as beautiful on the outside as it is inside. Great pics. I've only gone in a few times, but I'm always amazed at how it has been so wonderfully preserved.

[Ron Payne]

I suppose it is rather majestic, but in the context of the 2 neighboring T&P buildings, it doesn't have the over-the-top details that they have (and that I gravitate towards). Still, I must agree, it is a beauty in its own right!

And don't call me Shirley!

[John T Roberts]

This is off topic, but Happy Birthday, Ron!

[Ron Payne]

Thanks! I just saw this, but I DID just have my birthday 'party' with the kids last Sunday, so it isn't too far off! You know you're getting old and your kids are growing up when you have to plan things a week late to mesh with multiple work/school schedules!

[dangr.dave]

Here is one of my favorite photos of the Post Office building that I've taken:


US Post Office, Fort Worth by dangr.dave, on Flickr

[cberen1]

I believe that the best use of this building in the future is to have it be the home of the Fort Worth Public Library.  It is large, with close access to the freeway and to commuter rail, and looks rather like a library should.  It is smaller than the current building, but that is probably appropriate given the direction of libraries.

 

It also would benefit Lancaster Ave in its redevelopment efforts and it would free up an underutilized super-block in an area that could really be a nifty extension of Sundance Square type development.

 

I haven't thought all the way through this, but it seems like a win/win.

[johnfwd]

Maybe. But with libraries facing forced downsizing in physical scale on account of significant technological changes in information storage and retrieval, I can't see our library moving into that size a building. Also, after undergoing its expensive building expansion of a decade ago, why would they want to move again? Is the library thinking of moving?

[cberen1]

The PO building is actually about 30% smaller than the current library building.  Seems directionally correct for what's going on in the world of libraries.

 

No.  The library is not thinking of moving.  It's just something I came up with.  The current library building isn't ideal for a library in a lot of ways.  They would like to make serious modifications to the building anyway, but can't for lack of funding.

 

Seems like the commercial value of the current library lots would be higher than the value of the PO lots.  The city could sell the library blocks and use the funds to buy and upgrade the PO building to be exactly the way they want it to be.  The city could then put two very valuable city blocks back on the tax rolls. 

 

In fact, those two blocks would make an ideal site for a skyscraper, with a new four story parking garage only a block away...

[Volare]

Post Office building to be sold:

 

http://www.star-tele...ost-office.html

 

Knowing what we do about Fort Worth, I would guess this building has zero historic protection. Expecting it to be bulldozed and replaced with a Super Wal-Mart.

[John T Roberts]

It doesn't have zero historic protection, but it is close.  The building is designated Demolition Delay.  That means that a 180 day demolition delay can be placed on the building to see if there are ways to avoid demolition. 

[Zaner]

Surely a future use can be found for this building.  It would be very unfortunate to lose this building. 

[renamerusk]

I don't know about y'all; but the thought of this building being placed in the hands of a commercial developer who may not have the appreciation for the PO as do many of us is cause for my heart to be racing!!!!!  The PO real estate specialist appears alarmingly dispassionate about the building.

 

Keep Fort Worth folksy

[John T Roberts]

Here's a link to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram article about the Post Office relocating and the potential sale of the building.

 

http://www.star-tele...ost-office.html

[Volare]

If ever we needed local hero Bob Simpson to step in to rescue a building, this is it.

 

I wonder if there is any precedence in the US for a similar building being re-purposed. I can't think of one off the top of my head, but surely someone else has some knowledge?

[ramjet]

A blog on such things:

 

http://www.savethepostoffice.com/

[johnfwd]

As a frequent postal customer downtown, I'm more concerned about where the retail services are to be relocated "in the same zip code."  Would that be 819 Taylor Street?
 

[RD Milhollin]

Seems it would make sense to put the USPS downtown counter in the Federal Building. 

[GenE]

If ever we needed local hero Bob Simpson to step in to rescue a building, this is it.

 

I wonder if there is any precedence in the US for a similar building being re-purposed. I can't think of one off the top of my head, but surely someone else has some knowledge?

 

http://news.yahoo.co...-085936846.html  from today, Jan 3, 2014.

 

Within the details of the picture article it says, 

 

4. Stamford Post Office, Stamford, Conn. — A federal court ruled against the sale and demolition plan for this historic post office. The ruling could help preservationists save historic post offices nationwide.

[renamerusk]

If ever we needed local hero Bob Simpson to step in to rescue a building, this is it.

 

As a frequent postal customer downtown, I'm more concerned about where the retail services are to be relocated "in the same zip code."  Would that be 819 Taylor Street?

 

 

Seems it would make sense to put the USPS downtown counter in the Federal Building. 

 

As for th later two comments first: No to the suggestion that the Federal Building, 817 Taylor Street become the USPS.  It would be impractical to require postal customers to undergo the security scan required at all federal buildings just to send and to receive mail.

 

As for the earlier comment: Bob Simpson or someone similarly inclined is the ideal "white knight" for the city.  For now, I think a plausible solution for the USPS @ Lancaster could go as follows:

 

-The city sells 908 Monroe Street to Mr. Simpson or someother developer;
-Take the money to purchase the USPS @ Lancaster for the $1.00 as is possible for a federal to local title exchange;
-Relocate the existing city services from 908 Monroe Street to the current city hall by relocating council, managers, taxing and legal city offices into the new city hall @ Lancaster;
-Lease to USPS a limited send and receive post office window at the current Lancaster Street location in an unsecured area of the new city hall.
 

[Volare]

A better version of the yahoo article posted above with photos of the buildings that were saved. That Stamford post office is nice but nothing like what we have here in Fort Worth.

 

Note Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis- looks a lot like our own neglected Hertiage Plaza.

 

http://blog.preserva...tion-wins-2013/

[RD Milhollin]

 

As a frequent postal customer downtown, I'm more concerned about where the retail services are to be relocated "in the same zip code."  Would that be 819 Taylor Street?

 

 

Seems it would make sense to put the USPS downtown counter in the Federal Building. 

 

As for th later two comments first: No to the suggestion that the Federal Building, 817 Taylor Street become the USPS.  It would be impractical to require postal customers to undergo the security scan required at all federal buildings just to send and to receive mail.

 

 

I am sure that a separate entrance could be constructed in the Federal Building for a downtown USPS desk.

[JBB]

Isn't there already a post office in the federal building?

[renamerusk]

Seems it would make sense to put the USPS downtown counter in the Federal Building. 

 

..... It would be impractical to require postal customers to undergo the security scan required at all federal buildings just to send and to receive mail.

 

I am sure that a separate entrance could be constructed in the Federal Building for a downtown USPS desk.

 

 

Okay, yeah.  Constructing a USPS Pavillion on the Federal Plaza in Throckmorton Street; and that would negate the need to have security scans for using the USPS.

[Fort Worthology]

Isn't there already a post office in the federal building?

 

I thought so, though it has much worse hours than the main Lancaster one and I *thought* it required security scans, but I could be wrong on that last point.

[dangr.dave]

Yes; the federal building downtown has a small post office.  Interestingly, there is a door that goes almost straight into the post office on the south-side of the building (I think it even says 'Post Office' above the door on the outside), but it has been chained shut for security reasons.  So, in order to use that post office, you do have to go through security.  It is a slow and highly inefficient (understaffed - though that could be fixed if more people started using it) post office, though, so you aren't missing much if you don't end up using that one.

[John T Roberts]

It looks as if the Post Office might lease some space in downtown.  It seems to me that the one in the Federal Building would be too much of a hassle to conduct business.  Time is money, and I don't have time to go through the security process and then wait in a slow line just to mail things.

[RD Milhollin]

I never realized how much the Downtown Fort Worth Post office resembled in design the James Farley Post Office in Manhattan until the tilt-shift photo Austin55 posted last night. 

 

http://www.nyc-archi.../MID/MID133.htm

 

Interestingly, the former main PO for New York City is being redeveloped as a "new Penn Station" right next to the original location buried under Madison Square Garden. I wonder if transit facilities could ever be part of the future for Fort Worth's grand downtown Post Office?

[ramjet]

Went next door to try to capture some of the, what I see as kind of whimsical, architectural details on the outside of the Post Office:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[arch-image]

Some Nice Shots!