Protesters camped outside the downtown Berkeley Post Office to show their opposition to its sale. Photo: Eden Teller
Protesters camped outside the downtown Berkeley Post Office to show their opposition to its sale. Photo: Eden Teller

The U.S. Postal Service is set to list Berkeley’s downtown Post Office for sale. It’s a beautiful, landmarked building and the City Council opposes its sale which is understandable, but the city needs a position regarding possible future uses of the building, argues Dorothy Walker, a former member of Berkeley’s Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee, in an Opinionator piece published today.

Whether the building becomes a community art center, a food hall, retail specialty shops, a museum, or a performance space — as have all been suggested — the most important thing now is for the Council to have a big vision for how reuse of this site can best contribute to the needs of the community and towards a vibrant downtown, Walker says.

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