A Plant City downtown landmark has closed its doors, because of unsafe conditions.
The U.S. Post Office off West Reynolds Street in Historic Downtown Plant City has been closed after deterioration was discovered in the basement of the nearly 80-year-old building.
Deteriorating conditions were discovered in the basement June 26, during a routine inspection. The facility was put on emergency suspension indefinitely beginning June 27.
“We determined the post office had conditions that needed to be addressed,” spokesperson Enola Rice said. “At this point, we are having safety officials go in to evaluate the severity of the issue, and at this time, we’re not sure when the location will be reopened.”
Rice would not comment on the severity of the problem or the extent or exact location of the deterioration. Safety officials have begun assessing the issue.
As of Monday, no update had been released, but Rice said the location will reopen if the issue is resolved and deemed safe. No projected date for reopening has been set.
“The current plan is to address the problem and reopen,” Rice said.
The post office, 301 W. Reynolds St., which opened in 1935, has around 16,000 square feet of space and was the only post office in Plant City for more than 70 years.
Growing up in Plant City, City Commissioner Mike Sparkman remembers going to the downtown post office every day, checking his P.O. Box there.
“It became a ritual for a lot of people and became a gathering place where you saw everybody in town,” Sparkman said. “It’s really sad to see it closed, because it’s been a landmark here for so long.”
There has been speculation that the USPS has been considering closing the downtown location for several years.
“Everybody feels like they are using the conditions of it as an excuse to close it,” Sparkman said. “They have targeted it for closure for some time, and the community has been able to convince them to keep it open.”
Customers will be able to pick up and mail packages at the Walden Woods location, 2501 Walden Woods Drive. Lobby hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
No measures need to be taken by current customers, as P.O. Box addresses will stay the same and function from the Walden Woods location.
Customers may purchase stamps at several retail locations in Plant City, including CVS Pharmacy, 403 N. Alexander St., Walgreens Pharmacy, 2102 W. Baker St., and Publix Supermarket, 2515 Thonotosassa Road.
The West Reynolds Street location had one full-time employee. Rice said the employee now is working at the Walden Woods location.