AURORA - A proposed post office move that has created some controversy in the past gained general approval from the public Wednesday.
About 30 residents showed up for a Q & A session with a representative of the U.S. Postal Service, which recently named the Heary Building, 371 Main St., as its tentative future home.
Though the building already hosted the postal service long ago, some raised questions about handicap accessibility when the plans were first pitched starting in 2003.
“Accessibility is going to be a very big issue,” said Paul Senk of the USPS Wednesday. “We're going to be taking a good, hard, close look at accessibility standards.”
State Historical Preservation Office regulations will shape the project as well. Senk was not sure how long the design and permitting phase would take, but the lease in the current building ends in 2009.
Wells College, which put in the sole bid for the project, plans to demolish the current post office next door at 373 Main St. and create a parking area.
“I think it's a wonderful idea,” resident Jacci Farlow said. “I think it'll be great to have a post office in the center of town.”
Many supported the plan on the condition that accessibility, both for vehicles and disabled people, is improved from the current location.
Mayor Thomas Gunderson said he was pleased with the comments.
“I was pleasantly surprised that people seemed pretty supportive of the project,” he said afterward. “If this goes through, it could have a very positive impact on the village.”
The village will get ownership of or access to 1,000 feet of lakefront with a deal it agreed to with the college last year.
“By joining together with the village, we thought we could do several things,” college Vice President and Treasurer Diane Hutchinson said prior to the meeting.
The proposed lot nearby would help accommodate Cayuga Lake waterfront visitors and patrons of the Aurora Inn, which college partner the Aurora Foundation renovated in 2003.
The foundation is also paying for preparations for the post office at the Heary Building, which already has offices in the rear and upstairs. It would be the last foundation renovation project scheduled for a while, Hutchinson said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
Though the building already hosted the postal service long ago, some raised questions about handicap accessibility when the plans were first pitched starting in 2003.
“Accessibility is going to be a very big issue,” said Paul Senk of the USPS Wednesday. “We're going to be taking a good, hard, close look at accessibility standards.”
State Historical Preservation Office regulations will shape the project as well. Senk was not sure how long the design and permitting phase would take, but the lease in the current building ends in 2009.
Wells College, which put in the sole bid for the project, plans to demolish the current post office next door at 373 Main St. and create a parking area.
“I think it's a wonderful idea,” resident Jacci Farlow said. “I think it'll be great to have a post office in the center of town.”
Many supported the plan on the condition that accessibility, both for vehicles and disabled people, is improved from the current location.
Mayor Thomas Gunderson said he was pleased with the comments.
“I was pleasantly surprised that people seemed pretty supportive of the project,” he said afterward. “If this goes through, it could have a very positive impact on the village.”
The village will get ownership of or access to 1,000 feet of lakefront with a deal it agreed to with the college last year.
“By joining together with the village, we thought we could do several things,” college Vice President and Treasurer Diane Hutchinson said prior to the meeting.
The proposed lot nearby would help accommodate Cayuga Lake waterfront visitors and patrons of the Aurora Inn, which college partner the Aurora Foundation renovated in 2003.
The foundation is also paying for preparations for the post office at the Heary Building, which already has offices in the rear and upstairs. It would be the last foundation renovation project scheduled for a while, Hutchinson said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are 5 comment(s)
Local wrote on Feb 27, 2007 6:50 PM:
Neighboring Villager wrote on Feb 27, 2007 2:53 PM:
Worth reading: re-post from February 17 wrote on Feb 23, 2007 10:03 AM:
wow wrote on Feb 23, 2007 12:08 AM:
Huh? wrote on Feb 22, 2007 12:59 PM: