Post Office Considering Closure Of 13 Area Locations
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Chicago and the suburbs will both feel it if the U.S. Postal Service goes ahead with plans to close about 10% of its post offices.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's John Cody reports, the Postal Service is trying to ease the pain by saying that many of the closed buildings will be replaced by what are called village post offices – based in local stores, libraries or local government buildings.
Postmaster General Patrick Donohue said while "We do feel that we are still relevant to the American public and the economy, we have to make some tough choices."
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Donohue also said that includes closing about 3,700 small post offices nationwide, including some rural branches that get business less than two hours per day, even though they're open longer.
On the possible closing list for the Chicago area are ten post offices in the city:
3639 W. 79th St.,
611 W. 63rd St.,
700 E. 61ST St.,
6559 S. Ashland Ave.,
2345 S. Wentworth Ave.,
168 N. Clinton St.;
4222 W. Madison St.,
116 S. Western Ave.,
324 S Laramie Ave.
and 5001 W. Division St.
In the suburbs, branches in Riverdale, LaGrange park, and Hillside also could be closed.
No office will be closed before December and, until then, the Postal Service will be taking public comment about the impact of closing the post offices on the list.
Post office business has declined overall in recent years, as much of first class business – including paying of bills – has migrated to the Internet.
