The U.S. Postal Service announced Thursday that the federal agency has signed a lease to occupy a future building planned for Locust Avenue.
Proposed Post Office for 18-26 Locust Ave. in New Canaan. Rendering by James Schettino Architects
With a signed lease, the agency can “move forward with the New Canaan Post Office at the new location,” David D. Mastroianni, USPS district manager, said in a press release.
“Signing the lease is an important first step towards the delivery of our new, first class home in the community. We join New Canaan in welcoming this development.”
After sorting out some final concerns regarding traffic flow and parking, town officials in May approved a site plan for a new building at 18-26 Locust Ave. Plans call for a two-story brick, cupola-topped, Federal-style structure with a total of 8,220 square feet and office space on the second floor.
The property’s owner, hopeful Post Office developer Richard Carratu of LJ18 Properties LLC, in April acquired additional land abutting the proposed site in order to expand parking (and won support for the project from the Parking Commission).
In public meetings, developers have said the approved new building could be built inside one year, though construction has not started.
Carratu declined to comment when reached by NewCanaanite.com.
First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said he, Carratu and U.S. Rep Jim Himes (D-4) have been working diligently for days to hammer out the final details of a lease.
“I am delighted that he [Carratu] has a signed document and I am thrilled to say we will have a Post Office in town, but I will say—being in commercial real estate all these years and working with companies—I will be even more happy to see ground broken,” said Mallozzi, owner of Bob’s Sports and the commercial spaces at 94 and 102 Park St. “I am really happy to see the effort that Richard put in and especially Congressman Himes’ office and myself, because I believe it made a difference and took a lot of pressure from all of us to ensure this keeps moving forward.”
Thank you to all who have worked to bring a first class Post Office back to New Canaan. The proposed building looks to be a perfect fit for New Canaan and something the entire town should be proud of. Kudos to all for following through along a long and winding path to get this done!