United States Post Office (Berkeley, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office
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 Location in Oakland, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1914 |
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| Built by | Van Sant-Houghton, Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000144 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1984 |
The U.S. Post Office, also known as the Berkeley Main Post Office, is a local branch of the United States Postal Service. It is located at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley, California. This important building was constructed between 1914 and 1915.
The Post Office building is part of the Berkeley Historic Civic Center District. This district is a five-block area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes many important public buildings. The Berkeley Post Office is one of the oldest and most decorated buildings in this historic area.
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What Makes This Building Special?
Its Unique Design
The building's design is inspired by the Renaissance Revival architecture style. This means it looks like buildings from the European Renaissance period. The front of the building has beautiful arches made of terra cotta, which is a type of baked clay. These arches are supported by simple columns. Some people have said its design reminds them of an old hospital in Italy called the Ospedale degli Innocenti.
Who Designed It?
The main architect of the building is not fully known. However, Oscar Wenderoth's name is on the cornerstone. He was the director of the Office of the Supervising Architect. This office designed many buildings for the United States government.
Art and Expansion
In 1932, the Post Office got bigger with a new section added. A few years later, during a time called the New Deal, new art was added. The Treasury Relief Art Project paid for a sculpture and a mural for the lobby. These artworks are still well-preserved today. They show the popular art styles and themes from the New Deal era.
The Post Office was named a Berkeley Landmark in 1980. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Why Was the Post Office Almost Sold?
Financial Challenges
The USPS faced some money problems. Because of this, they started to sell some of their older buildings that were not used as much. Many communities protested these sales. The Postal Service said they had only sold a small number of historic buildings. They also noted that they own many properties that could be considered historic.
Community Fights Back
In 2013, the Berkeley Post Office was put up for sale. The plan was to sell the building but let the Postal Service still use the lobby. People in Berkeley were very upset about this. They protested for 33 days outside the building. The City Council also voted against the sale and tried to stop it for a year.
In 2014, postal officials announced they had a buyer for the building. However, a group called "First They Came for the Homeless" started another protest. The City of Berkeley also filed a lawsuit to stop the sale. Because of these actions, the buyer decided not to purchase the building. In 2015, a judge dismissed the lawsuit because the sale was no longer happening. The second protest continued until April 2016, when police cleared the area.
