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Local Post Office future unsure

Future of Eagle Village post office uncertain

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

Date published: 7/7/2009

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

The University of Mary Washington wants to keep the post office in its Eagle Village development off U.S. 1.

But UMW Foundation CEO Jeff Rountree said employees at the location have told him it's scheduled for closure. Meanwhile, he said, U.S. Postal Service officials have expressed interest in renewing the post office's lease.

"We're getting conflicting information," Rountree said.

Efforts to reach a U.S. Postal Service spokesperson were unsuccessful.

The U.S. Postal Service has several other locations in the area, including on Princess Anne Street and at the Spotsylvania Towne Centre.

Rountree said he talked briefly last week with U.S. Postal Service officials, who he said "don't seem to have any issues with a new lease."

"We definitely value that business and would hate to lose them," he said.

UMW's private foundation plans to tear down three more stores at Eagle Village, formerly Park & Shop, soon. Two of those shops--Mailhouse Plus and Lee's Cleaners--already have moved to the other end of the shopping center, near the post office.

The Hair Cuttery, which is the other store scheduled for demolition, will move to another storefront in the shopping center in the next week or so, Rountree said. No more stores will be torn down during the first phase of the Eagle Village project, he said.

In December 2007, UMW's foundation bought the 21-acre Park & Shop shopping center for $18.75 million. The foundation demolished the Roses store in February to make room for student apartments, a parking garage and retail and office space.

The estimated price for phase one of the mixed-use development is $115 million. It's expected to be finished in summer 2010.

Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402 jbranscome@freelance star.com

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Date published: 7/7/2009