Politics & Government

City/Association Move to Take Historical Building

Redlands has agreed to try and buy a historic post office building from the federal government.

After years of searching for a home for a city museum, the Redlands Historical Museum Association may have finally found the right spot.

The Redlands City Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to write a letter announcing its intention to purchase the US Postal Service post office building at 201 Brookside Ave. for use as the museum.

On March 2, the US Postal Service announced plans to sell the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. On March 14, the Redlands Historical Museum Association delivered a letter to the City Manager requesting the city submit a letter of interest to buy the Post Office property, according to the staff report.

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“I am thrilled to be here representing the Redlands Museum Association board and membership to relate our enthusiastic desire to acquire the Redlands Post Office,” Nelda Stuck, president of the historical association’s board.

The plan, Stuck told the council, would have the association provide the financing if the city could serve as the purchaser.

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“The historical facility already has a small postal museum inside,” Stuck said. “This beautiful structure is one of the iconic buildings of our town. It has the perfect location near city hall, the library and the Lincoln Shrine.”

The facility is in good, usable condition and has a large open area for displays, a spacious storage area on the lower level. It already has an ADA disabilities ramp and a loading dock in the back.

The association has been waiting for this kind of opportunity for more than a decade, Councilman Jerry Bean said.

“Twelve years ago the city council, in a motion, said that once the police department had vacated - the old city hall on Cajon Street - that that would be the location. And of course 12 years later (the police) are still there.”

“We’re working on the police department situation, but it’s probably not going to happen for a while,” Bean said. “So when this opportunity came up, it just seemed like the perfect place for the proposed museum.”


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