The future of a Post Office in Downtown Lee's Summit
Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street (DLSMS) considers post office services, including post office boxes, as a vital resource for our residents and business owners in the downtown area. In February 2015, our organization was informed that the United States Postal Service (USPS) was considering relocation of the Downtown Lee’s Summit Post Office to the southern annex postal facility. Our organization submitted a Village Post Office information request form to the USPS with the intent of gathering more information about the possibility of our organization operating this type of postal service in our downtown area. Unfortunately, we were notified by the USPS Mid-America District that they have made the decision to offer another type of postal service, a Contract Postal Unit (CPU), in the area. A CPU is a supplier-owned or supplier-leased site operated by the supplier who is under contract with USPS to provide postal products and services to the community. It is our understanding that this type of postal unit does not include post office boxes.
Criteria for partnership include:
- Approximately 180 square feet available within your business
- Business cannot offer private mailbox service or competitive products and services
- Handicap accessibility – parking and ramp access nearby
A CPU provides customers with the following benefits:
- Alternate access to postal products and services, at Post Office prices
- Convenient additional locations
- Extended hours (weekends and evenings)
Within Downtown Lee’s Summit, there are a handful of locations that would be ideal for a smaller footprint for retail postal services. Per direction of the DLSMS board, our organization will not be pursuing a contract with the USPS for a Contract Postal Unit. Our organization and our partners are committed to helping find suitable Downtown space for these services, and it is our hope that another organization, business owner, and/or entrepreneur will be interested in pursuing this opportunity.