Council stands by its decision to close alley for new post office

By Monica Pryts
Herald Staff Writer

GREENVILLE September 04, 2008 09:48 pm

— Greenville council members Thursday denied a property owner’s appeal to stop the U.S. Postal Service from closing part of Fessler Place alley for a new post office.
Anthony Petricini owns a building on South High Street adjacent to the site of the future post office. He’s opposed to the Postal Service closing part of the alley that borders his property because his garage doors are accessible only from Fessler, said his attorney Stephen J. Mirizio.
Council on July 24 approved an ordinance closing part of the alley to accommodate the new post office to be built at West Main and South Second streets.
Petricini didn’t attend that meeting and Mirizio said Petricini wasn’t made aware of the potential change until after it.
Edward Dishong of the Postal Service said part of the alley needs to be closed to facilitate the operations of the new building.
The Postal Service is willing to close a smaller portion of the alley than originally requested, Dishong said.
Mirizio wasn’t agreeable.
“If the alley goes, he can’t use his property,” he said of Petricini.
Council members said they hope a reasonable solution can be reached to avoid further delays of building the post office.
After the meeting Mirizio said he wasn’t surprised the appeal was denied but hopes talks can continue with postal officials.
“We don’t want the project to fail,” Mirizio said.