Historic Ukiah post office up for sale again

Four years after it was closed, sold and then left vacant, surrounded by green construction fencing, the former downtown Ukiah post office is once more for sale.

The 79-year-old Moderne-style building was listed this week, bringing fresh hope it will be resurrected as a vibrant addition to the historic downtown district.

The post office served as a community hub until the U.S. Postal Service, citing budget shortfalls, closed it down and moved mail service across town.

“We’re encouraged it’s on the market,” said Ukiah City Manager Sage Sangiacomo. “Making it available to other potential business interests is a definite positive.”

When the post office was closed, many Ukiah residents predicted it would become an eyesore in the center of downtown, much like the Palace Hotel, which has been vacant and decaying for more than 25 years.

The prediction had appeared to be coming true, with little visible change to the building in the past four years and an owner who was secretive and unwilling to discuss her plans or divulge her identity.

The listing claims that $150,000 in remediation work was carried out, but it’s unclear what that entailed. The Bay Area real estate agent representing the sale, John Schaefer of Cushman and Wakefield, was not available Friday afternoon. Planning records on the building also were not available Friday.

The Postal Service in 2012 sold the building to Steam Studio LLC for $620,000. The sale closed in January of that year.

The owners now want $875,000 for the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Oak Street post office was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1937, according to documents supplied to the register. It was constructed of poured concrete and cost $72,315 to build. It was a product of the Depression-era Works Progress Administration.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MendoReporter