MANY IN PARKVILLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RELOCATED
by Stacy Wiedmaier
Landmark reporter
Parkville city officials, business owners and residents see potential in a valuable piece of downtown real estate at 105 East St. — the site of the city’s post office.
City officials have explored ways to make better use of the property, but the building and land are owned by the federal government. The structure, designated as historic, was constructed in 1950 and has housed the post office since 1960.
“I believe the idea of purchasing the post office and relocating it within Parkville has been on the table for a number of years, well before my time here,” said Parkville Mayor Dean Katerndahl. “The main reason is that it pinches in on Hwy. 9 where it passes downtown, making it difficult to improve that area of the highway. It is also seen as a prime development spot for business or parking.”
The triangle intersection in front of the post office can be hazardous and traffic often backs up during busy times. For years, city officials have discussed replacing the triangle with a roundabout, but that is not possible without using the post office property.
Parkville resident Brian Dill, who visited the post office Monday, said he supports purchasing the property if the city uses it strategically.
“If they’re going to replace it with commerce or for mixed use, I’m in favor of that,” he said. “Those make more sense to me than using it to add downtown parking. As long as they can fix the triangle area and don’t have to cut into English Landing Park, it sounds great.”
Alexa Barton, Parkville’s city administrator, began exploring options to purchase the building and property in spring 2023 after the city received grant money for the ongoing Redefine Route 9 Project. She sought assistance from Rep. Sam Graves’ office, which connected her with a U.S. Postal Service real estate specialist in Washington, D.C.
During a conference call, Barton learned the Postal Service regularly receives similar requests from small cities. He shared a wide variety of requirements.
“The Postal Service does not just relocate their buildings solely for the benefit of the municipality because it requires a lot of exercise and analysis on the part of the USPS,” she said. “And it takes an enormous amount of time, energy and money, including a commitment without a guarantee that it could be returned in the end.”
The city would have to pay for an initial $25,000 assessment as well as additional relocation costs. The Postal Service would not cover the expenses.
“It was basically, ‘If you want us to move, then you need to find the place and the right area,’” Barton said. “We considered it, but the city cannot commit entirely up front because we didn’t know what the design would look like, or if they were going to be willing to move after we paid for that study.”
City officials then informed the representative the post office is in a flood zone. He initially disputed the city’s claim, until they provided photos from the 1993 flood showing only the top six inches of the building’s roof above the water.
The Postal Service ultimately considered the flood risk, but told the city it was satisfied with the property’s ample parking for their fleet and 10,000-square-foot space, which includes a warehouse for parcel delivery operations. A traditional storefront located elsewhere would be too small.
The building’s historic designation also raised questions about whether it could be demolished if the city purchased the property.
City officials located a potential new space that met their 10,000 square foot requirement — the former city hall on Hwy. 9 — but the two-story building did not meet the Postal Service’s need for a single-level facility.
City officials also considered the Bell Road Industrial Park and Creekside area.
“They wanted a main area in downtown or near the hub of Parkville, not on the west side of town, so those weren’t a viable option for them either,” Barton said.
After years of meetings, emails and discussions about Postal Service requirements, city officials determined the only remaining option was to purchase land and build a new post office. The city ultimately determined it could not afford the project.
Barton said she has attempted multiple times since 2025 to reopen discussions with the Postal Service representative, but her emails and calls have gone unanswered.
“We’ve made numerous attempts, to no avail,” Katerndahl said. “We have never made any progress. I think it’s fair to say that the city and people in the downtown community, regardless of Hwy. 9, would be interested in relocating the post office within the city and putting that property to better use for downtown.”
