UPDATE: Ackerman Says He Is Negotiating with USPS to Keep Bell Blvd. Post Office in Place

UPDATE: Aug. 7, 12:20 p.m.: A USPS spokeswoman said a review of the Bayside post office is currently underway and that no definite decision has yet been made on the branch's fate.

"Reviewing post office operations is nothing new," USPS Spokeswoman Connie Chirichello said. "More recently, we have been assessing our resources, including postal facilities, as we navigate the challenging financial issues facing the postal service.

In the case of Bayside, we are taking a prudent course of reviewing our physical assets and considering ways we might look to serve the community if we could make different use of space, staffing, equipment or transportation. We are considering all options available to us. Our analysis is not completed and no decision to relocate has been authorized."

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman says he is now in discussions with the United States Postal Service to prevent the closure of .

USPS is , which is located at 212-35 42nd Ave. in Bayside, and move it to an annex at 41-29 216th St.

State Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, and a group of community leaders on July 27 during which they said the closure of the site could detract from the character of the community.

Local leaders have said the annex is or adequate sidewalks.

But Ackerman said he is “hopeful” that USPS will listen to the community’s calls to keep the Bell Boulevard branch open.

“As the USPS decides on whether to move forward with their plan to relocate the Bayside post office, I am hopeful and confident that postal officials will listen to the concerns I have expressed to them in our discussions and conclude that relocating this facility to an isolated and out-of-the-way spot is unwise for both them and the community,” the congressman said.

USPS has not returned calls for comment on the plan to close the facility.

Bayside leaders have said they are upset that the postal service has not taken any community input on the proposed closure.

They have also argued that the post office’s current locale is conveniently located near the shopping strip’s businesses, restaurants and .

Ackerman said he has relayed the message to USPS that a relocation to the annex would be inconvenient for most community residents.

“The location of the Bayside branch has served the area and postal service well for decades and I am optimistic that we can reach a positive resolution that will allow the Bayside facility to stay where it is,” Ackerman said.