Montpelier’s Former Post Office Set for Auction Amid Environmental Concerns

MONTPELIER, Vt. NewsWK — The former U.S. Post Office building in Montpelier will be auctioned starting June 15, offering a pivotal opportunity for local development. This auction comes after the property has remained vacant since the devastating floods of July 2023, which forced the U.S. Postal Service to relocate.

Jon Copans, head of the Foundation for a Resilient Montpelier, expressed concerns about the building’s condition. “We’re talking about a stone’s throw from our state capital, and yet we face these significant challenges when it comes to figuring out what comes next for the property,” he stated.

Property Details and Future Plans

Located at 87 State Street, the building has suffered considerable damage and has been a focal point for potential redevelopment. The Foundation for a Resilient Montpelier envisions transforming the area behind the building into multifamily housing, potentially accommodating 70 to 80 units, while keeping the building itself as commercial space.

However, a recent report revealed troubling contamination from PCBs, chemicals known for their adverse health effects. “It doesn’t do a full job of characterizing the PCB contamination, but frankly, that report is just enough information to be significantly concerning in terms of the level of contamination,” Copans noted.

Challenges Ahead

The report by Clay Point Associates, Inc., identified widespread PCB contamination in various building materials. Although the federal government has complied with regulations for the sale, it has not allowed full access for a detailed environmental assessment, complicating the auction process.

Despite the challenges, the Foundation is exploring avenues to participate in the auction, including forming a local development corporation to pool resources from interested developers. A bill recently passed could provide up to $1 million in grant funding to support such efforts.

Auction Details

• Auction Start Date: June 15
• Starting Bid: $500,000
• Online Bidding Ends: August 5

Copans remarked, “If there’s prospective buyers, if they want to engage with us to talk about where we might have some shared interest, we would be very much interested in those conversations.” With the auction approaching, local residents and potential bidders will be keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding this significant property.