To the Editor:

I write to suggest that the Borough and U.S.P.S. reconsider the pending sale of the Palmer Square post office building.

The location and placement of this post office provide an occasion to use Palmer Square for non-commercial purposes for probably a few thousand local residents on a regular basis, making it a prime example of the pedestrian lifestyle so sought after today. While a new facility may be in the same general area, it is unlikely to provide the park-like ambience of the present one with its exterior landscaping, magnificent trees, and pleasant walkways, not to mention the concerts and other community functions on the lawn.

Newly constructed post offices tend to be sterile in terms of interior design and lighting. A new facility may be unable to provide large boxes or 24-hour lobby access. Repurposing of the current building will offer additional sad evidence of what used to be but is no more. A commercial owner will be primarily concerned with conveniences for its own employees and customers, not the general public.

Palmer Square, with the current post office and Nassau Inn at its center, is a venue of unsurpassed charm. It and the splendidly successful Hinds Plaza make the Borough a special place. This post office is emblematic of our heritage — historically, architecturally, and as an expression of public service. The financial challenges the U.S.P.S. faces are not the responsibility of the employees or patrons of this particular post office. Princeton should think twice before losing this urban jewel.

James P. Murphy
Witherspoon Street