Courthouse News Service: In a victory for opponents of the U.S. Postal Service’s planned sale of the historic Berkeley, California, post office, a federal judge found Monday that the government could not prove a city ordinance blocking the sale is unconstitutional. In 2011, the Postal Service announced plans to sell the 104-year old neoclassical building, designed by famed architect Oscar … Read More
City of Berkeley wins lawsuit with the Postal Service over zoning law involving historic post office
The City of Berkeley has won its lawsuit with the Postal Service over the rezoning of the downtown area where the historic post office is located. The Postal Service filed this action in federal court back in August 2016. The Postal Service complained that the zoning ordinance enacted by the City of Berkeley in September 2014 had interfered with its efforts to … Read More
Trial Starts Monday on The U.S. Postal Service v. The City of Berkeley
Save the Berkeley Post Office: At 12 Noon on Monday, April 2, 2018, the lawsuit initiated by the United States Post Office and the United States Department of Justice against the City of Berkeley will come to trial. Back in August of 2016, the Feds initiated this suit in a challenge to the right of the City of Berkeley to … Read More
Trial Unlikely in Fight Over Berkeley Post Office
A federal judge seemed disinclined to order a trial in the U.S. Postal Service’s now four-year legal fight with the city of Berkeley over the planned sale of its historic downtown post office, wary of claims the city is intentionally trying to diminish the building’s value and discourage buyers. “We’re not just talking about the Postal Service’s ability to sell … Read More
Feds Press Lawsuit Against Berkeley’s Historic Civic Center District
Save the Berkeley Post Office Newsletter: The City of Berkeley and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), acting on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service, will be in Federal Court on Thursday January 11, 2018. This hearing is the result of a suit filed by the DOJ against Berkeley on August 22, 2016. The DOJ suit alleges that Berkeley’s Civic … Read More
Feds file lawsuit over Berkeley’s main post office
Berkeleyside: Berkeley’s attempt to limit commercial development of the Main Post Office conflicts with federal law and should be overturned, a lawsuit filed in federal court Monday by the U.S. Postal Service declares. When Berkeley passed the Civic Center Overlay in September 2014, limiting the post office and eight other buildings to civic uses such as museums, libraries and performance halls, … Read More
DOJ threatens lawsuit over Berkeley post office
Berkeleyside: In a strongly worded letter, the U.S. Department of Justice has warned the city of Berkeley that a lawsuit could be coming over the city’s “interference” with USPS plans to sell its downtown post office on Allston Way. The DOJ’s Civil Division sent the letter — stamped April 28 — to Mayor Tom Bates, and asked for a response by … Read More
Berkeley activists celebrate legacy of 17-month post office occupation
The Daily Californian: Though the occupation has ended, members of local activist groups returned to the steps and sidewalks outside the Berkeley Main Post Office on Saturday to commemorate their 17-month demonstration. About 30 community members gathered to hear from former protesters and activists 11 days after U.S. Postal Service officials dismantled the encampment April 12. The celebration included live … Read More
Berkeley post office worthy of passion, protest
San Jose Mercury: Consider some of Berkeley's signature protests. Legions of students sitting in for free speech. Citizen activists fighting to keep People's Park for the people. Tree-sitters giving voice to a grove of whispering oaks outside Memorial Stadium. Another one — with the requisite components of activism, occupation and principled outrage — has been raging quietly at the corner of … Read More
Court dismisses lawsuit over Berkeley post office after USPS rescinds decision to sell the historic building
The Postal Service has rescinded its decision to relocate and sell the historic post office on Allston Way in Berkeley, California. As a result, the legal case challenging the sale has been declared moot by the court, and the case has been dismissed. The lawsuit was filed by the City of Berkeley and the National Trust for Historic Preservation late … Read More
Berkeley: Suits test whether postal service must follow some preservation laws
By Judith Scherr BERKELEY — Calling their lawsuits against the U.S. Postal Service "test cases," attorneys suing the U.S. Postal Service over its attempt to sell Berkeley's century-old downtown post office said they believe a winning legal strategy will help save historic post offices across the country. The attorneys, Brian Turner, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Antonio … Read More
USPS moves to dismiss Berkeley’s complaint, removes post office from market
Due to ongoing litigation with the city of Berkeley regarding the sale of the Downtown Berkeley post office, the U.S. Postal Service removed the location from its commercial listings of buildings for sale earlier this month. On Jan. 22, USPS made a motion to dismiss a complaint the city filed regarding the sale of the building, located on Milvia Street and Allston Way. Read … Read More
Buyer opts out of purchase of historic Berkeley Post Office
The US Attorneys' office has notified the City of Berkeley that the prospective buyer of the Berkeley main post office has exercised an option to cancel the sale, which was set to close on December 22. News that the development firm of Hudson McDonald was the buyer of the post office was reported by Berkeleyside in early November, after weeks … Read More
National Trust joins Berkeley in suit against Postal Service
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has joined the City of Berkeley in a lawsuit against the Postal Service over the sale of the Berkeley Main Post Office. The suit complains that the Postal Service has failed to comply with federal historic preservation laws prior to entering into a contract for sale of the building. The National Trust’s complaint is … Read More
Historic Berkeley Post Office under contract to be sold
Judith Scherr For the Contra Costa Times: Confirming rumors buzzing around City Hall, the U.S. Postal Service told the Contra Costa Times that the historic downtown Berkeley Post Office is "under contract but not yet sold." An email from the city attorney Thursday to the City Council — leaked to the Berkeley Daily Planet — sets out a process for an eventual lawsuit … Read More
USPS may challenge Berkeley rezoning in court
The U.S. Postal Service may file a lawsuit challenging Berkeley's rezoning of the area around the downtown post office. This week the City Council is slated to approve a proposal to establish more restrictive development standards in Berkeley’s civic center. Postal Service spokesman Augustine Ruiz Jr. said via email Monday that “The Postal Service is evaluating all options with respect … Read More