March 30, 2011

Anthony Williams, Regional District Manager
Northland District
United States Postal Service
100 First Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401-9990

Dear Mr. Williams:

The board of directors of the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) strongly urges the Postal Service to drop from consideration its proposed relocation of Northfield’s Post Office to the Carrier Annex located in an industrial zone in the city’s far southwest corner.  Closing the downtown post office would not be in the best interest of Northfield or the Postal Service. 

Northfield is not a suburb where virtually any business location is equally convenient — or inconvenient — for citizens who are accustomed to driving miles to each destination.  Northfield’s vital downtown remains central to all parts of the community.  Yet, unlike an urban central city, it also remains an easy, convenient destination for drivers, bicyclists and the hundreds of residents who live within easy walking distance.  Northfield’s Post Office is in the very center of this dynamic district.

Downtown Northfield is so vital because it remains the location of a wide range of businesses in a city that grew 17% in the past decade.  From super markets, hardware stores and auto repair services to specialty retailers, from office businesses to production operations, from lodging and restaurants to housing, downtown is truly the business center of this community.  Nowhere else can the post office be so conveniently located for so many customers.  Nowhere else can the post office remain an essential contributor to building on this vitality.

For the past eleven years, the NDDC — a non-profit organization supported by private citizens, businesses throughout the community and the City — has worked to support and build downtown Northfield’s energy and quality.  We collaborate with the City, businesses, Northfield’s two nationally renowned colleges and other organizations toward this essential community goal. We would welcome an opportunity to work with the Postal Service toward a solution that keeps this essential service located in downtown Northfield.

Sincerely,

Gregory Kneser, President