The U.S. Post Office in Longport closed over the weekend.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT – The demise of the small Post Office on 27th Avenue was somewhat of a mystery, at least for residents of Longport who get their mail delivered to Post Office boxes. Except for a notice on the door, little information was available from the U.S. Postal Service about the closing until now.
Mayor Nicholas Russo said he did his best to keep the Post Office from closing, even writing letters to U.S. Senators Corey Booker and Robert Menendez asking for assistance in possibly relocating it to space in Borough Hall.
Realtor Matt Vassallo of Compass Real Estate said the owner of the building is trying to sell the property and decided not to renew the lease.
“It closed on Saturday, but today is the final day of the lease,” he said in a telephone interview Monday morning.
According to Russo, Longport has changed over the years and except for three businesses on Atlantic Avenue, commercial space no longer exists.
The property, which has been a Post Office since the 1930s, may have been a service station at one time, Russo said. He is trying to get the USPS to turn over any no longer needed historical artifacts that may be in the building to the Longport Historical Society.
“I have been assured that the move out of Longport will not affect home delivery of the mail,” Russo said. “It may be an issue for people who maintain a PO Box there. Where will their mail go?”
American Legion Commander Larry Pacentrilli said he knew nothing about the Post Office closing until last Thursday when one of the members went to pick up the mail. The Legion, which has a PO Box number, is currently in the throes of conducting its fundraising campaign for the Wounded Warrior Week program in September.
“We are currently accepting checks for Wounded Warrior Week, and we assume we will have to pick up our mail in Margate, but we’re going to have to change our stationery. It’s a mess,” he said.
Another member went to the Margate Post Office, but postal workers there said nothing official has been set up, he said.
In a press release sent to Downbeach.com late Monday afternoon, USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Xavier Hernandez confirmed that mail delivered to homes would not be affected, but those who get their mail delivered to PO boxes would have to pick up thieir mail in Margate.
Hernandez said that all retail operations would be moved to the Margate Post Office located at 8 S. Franklin Ave.
“PO Box mail for Longport Post Office customers will be delivered seamlessly to new boxes at Margate Post Office. Customers should present their old PO Box key along with valid identification to pick up mail at the Margate Post Office,” he said.
Hernandez said it is likely that customers will have to get a new PO Box number and a new key, but the mail will be delivered to the boxes seamlessly.
The 55- by 108-foot property is zoned commercial/office but, like most of Longport, is located in a residential single-family zone. It has an apartment on the second floor and is being sold for its land value. It is likely a buyer will demolish the aging structure to make way for a new residential building, Vassallo said.
The property is currently listed for sale at $2,295,000. A block from the beach, it has been on the market for 165 days and is currently assessed at $554,300 with the building assessed at $54,000. Properties in Longport are currently assessed at 78% of market value. Taxes were $2,021 in 2022.
Margate’s PO Box hours are 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Retail operations are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. For additional locations to deposit mail, customers are directed to usps.com.
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