The Old Post Office building stands at the center of the Fayetteville downtown square.
Photos by Todd Gill, Flyer staff
For the second time in the past year, attempts to purchase the Old Post Office in downtown Fayetteville have fallen through.
The building in the center of the Fayetteville square was under contract in January, but is back on the market, Mark Risk, listing agent with The Real Estate Consultants, confirmed Tuesday.
“The deal fell through late last week,” Risk said. “It had nothing to do with the building, it was just the proposed use the buyer was working on hasn’t come together.”
The building, located at 1 E. Center St. was most recently occupied by Urban Table restaurant. It appraised for $730,000 in March 2012 when the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission was negotiating a purchase of the property from owner Ron Bumpass.
The commission’s offer of $730,000 was not accepted.
Risk said Bumpass reduced the list price of the property from $1.5 million to $1.3 million after the most recent deal fell through.
“I’d say that they’re motivated sellers,” he said. “They’re ready to negotiate to get this deal done.”
About the Old Post Office
The old post office is a familiar landmark located in the center of the Fayetteville downtown square that served as a U.S. Post Office from 1911 until 1963. The original cost of construction was $60,000.
The fate of the building was in jeopardy when in 1974, it was slated for demolition by the Urban Renewal Plan for the downtown area. A group of citizens began a petition drive to preserve the Neoclassical Revival structure as a historic landmark. Eventually the ruling was reversed and the building was saved.
In August 1974, the building was placed on the National Historic Register. Two years later, the building was purchased by Donald and Edna Bumpass. In 1977, a project began to convert the old post office into an upscale restaurant and club. Original features preserved include the building’s native marble frieze panels, classical dentals, and solid brass door handles. The electrical system, with copper fuses and fuse boxes enclosed within beveled glass, was designed by Thomas Edison.
The property is encumbered with a Historic Preservation Easement dated June 18, 1978. The easement has a term of 40 years. This agreement requires the owner or successors of the subject property to maintain and administer the property so as to preserve its historical character for the 40-year term. The agreement also gives the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program the first rights of refusal if the owner shall wish to sell the property. The Arkansas Department of Historic Preservation has twice declined to exercise the right of refusal.
In the past 15 years, the old post office has housed various business including Hog City Diner, Stogie’s Fine Cigars and Tobacco, Sodie’s Fountain and Grill, Jammin’ Java, and Urban Table. The property is currently vacant except for Ron Bumpass’s use of the upper level’s western portion for his legal practice.
Source: A&P Commission
Bummer. I would think that a motivated seller would list the property at a price a bit closer to the most recent appraisal.
Motivated does not always mean realistic.
Would the square be better off today if the building had been removed is something that I have always wondered. Not saying yes or no. just always wondered.
On the topic…. I am surprised the building/land even appraised above 500,000. You really can’t develop that land easily with it being registered as historical.
In five years (2018) the preservation easement expires and the owner can do anything they want with the property, including demolish the building, apparently.
this is a first for me. Thanks for the info.
Historic designations don’t usually impose that much of a restriction on an owner who is actually interested in the building itself, and there are tax incentives that offset inconvenience and additional expenses. Historic preservation has been surprisingly successful in the United States. It usually gives a building instant landmark status (not usually possible with small- to medium-scale new construction) it’s good PR (which has its own value to the owner or tenant), it brings unusual buildings and unusual owners together, and it now ties in with the green building movement.