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A block-long landmarked building astride a key corner in the South Bronx is up for sale, and local officials are scrambling to make sure that whoever buys the property will play a positive role in the area's against-the-odds renaissance.
The countdown to the decision began last March when, as part of its effort to close a $20 billion budget gap, the U.S. Postal Service ultimately decided to put the Bronx General Post Office at 558 Grand Concourse on the auction block. By virtue of its sheer size and location on the corner of bustling East 149th Street, the ornate four-story building has become a focal point for those trying to inject new life into the borough's economy. Local leaders express concern that the private bidding process leaves too little room for the community to influence the selection of the winning bidder, much less what use it will make of the property.
"The south end of the Grand Concourse is a source of growing pride and growing concern," said Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Development Corp. "We've been working on improving the concourse for a very long time, and this building is a cornerstone of the community - a gateway of economic development."
Some fear that the G.P.O. could become yet another self-storage facility, which would add little to the local economy or street life - and only add insult to injury in some people's minds.
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