New York Daily News The Bronx General Post Office, a landmark 1930s building on Grand Concourse at E. 149th St. that the U.S. Postal Service is trying to sell. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service doesn’t know how many historic properties it owns and isn’t following the federal laws that govern their sale, the agency’s internal watchdog said in a report Monday.
The inspector general’s report offers ammunition to lawmakers who hope to stop the sale of the Bronx General Post Office, a landmark 1930s building on Grand Concourse at E. 149th St.
The conclusions matched those by the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, which urged the Postal Service to stop the sale of its historic buildings until it can follow the necessary laws.
Both studies were requested by Rep. Jose Serrano (D-Bronx), who is fighting efforts by the Postal Service to sell off real estate around the country, including 16 Bronx properties.
“We cannot continue to let the Postal Service sell off public properties without adhering to the law or to their own policies,” Serrano said.
Postal officials disputed the report, saying they know how many historic properties they own: 1,900.
“The Postal Service, itself a historical institution, highly values its historic assets and adheres to all federal laws … pertaining to selling historic properties,” a spokesman said.
The Postal Service wants to sell post offices around the country to stem losses resulting from falling mail volumes.