Cory Bilicko
Managing Editor
This location at 3838 Atlantic Ave. is among those the United States Postal Service selected as possible future sites for a new post office in Bixby Knolls.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is continuing to move forward with the relocation of its Bixby station, according to the postal service, and the current site of the neighborhood’s Trader Joe’s grocery store is being eyed as a possible location for a new post office. The one that had been located at 4580 Atlantic Ave. closed its doors Feb. 13 after the landlord terminated the lease, according to USPS officials, and a temporary emergency relocation to the north Long Beach station, 101 E. Market St., took place on Feb. 17.
The USPS Site Review Committee has compiled a list of properties that have been selected as possible locations for the permanent relocation of Bixby Station, and, in addition to the Trader Joe’s location, include: 3838 Atlantic Ave.; 4250 Long Beach Blvd., adjacent to the future Trader Joe’s location that formerly housed a Ralphs supermarket; and 4462-4470 Atlantic Ave., next to the Marshalls department store.
“Letter carriers and their vehicles will be housed in a carrier annex at 5101 Long Beach Blvd.,” he said. “This will be transparent to customers and will cause no change to mail delivery service.”
Blair Cohn, executive director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, expressed his approval for the choices of possible post office locations, but he indicated that parking is a concern.
“I saw the list of choices by the USPS, and they all seemed to be the logical choices,” Cohn said. “There are issues with a few of the choices, however. At 3838 Atlantic, there isn’t sufficient parking for a service use like a post office. At the ‘former’ Trader Joe’s space, the same might be true. Though the residents want a post office in Bixby Knolls, the complaints at Trader Joe’s have been about how crowded the parking lot always is. Plus, I think the property manager is looking for a restaurant and/or retail for that location.”
The property at 4462-4470 Atlantic Ave., next to the Marshalls department store, is another one the USPS is considering as a location for a new post office.
“The final choice within the Bixby Knolls Shopping Center is good for space and parking, but there are challenges with the landlord,” he said. “Perhaps Gaska, Inc., might see the value of having the USPS as a tenant, as well as the value to the neighborhood, and reconsider current leasing policies and practices.”
Eighth District Councilmember Al Austin said he is pleased that the USPS is hearing the community’s desire for a post office in the area.
“I’m glad that the U.S. Postal Service has been responsive to the many requests to keep a post office in 90807,” Austin said. “I’m sure they will negotiate a suitable location that will service our residents well. I encourage residents to submit written comments to the post office during the 30-day comment period.”
The USPS is accepting written comments on these proposed locations from members of the public through May 28, 2015. Written comments may be mailed to:
Dean Cameron
Facilities— Pacific Area
U.S. Postal Service
1300 Evans Ave. Ste. 200
San Francisco CA
94188-8200
The permanent site selection will be made after all public comments submitted have been reviewed and considered, according to the USPS.
