The city should be home to a new post office by early 2001.
The U.S. Postal Service recently bought 6.3 acres near U.S. 27 to build a 25,000-square-foot, full-service post office branch.
To be called the Ponderosa Branch, it will provide retail services and delivery to about 9,000 households and businesses in the 33330, 33331, 33332 ZIP codes and possibly others, said Jean Baker, real estate specialist for the U.S. Postal Service in Miami.
The branch will also provide 1,475 post office boxes and 173 parking spaces.
The post office will be part of the 300-acre Bergeron Park of Commerce & Industry, located on the north side of Sheridan Street between U.S. 27 and Interstate 75.
It will face Southwest 196th Avenue on the south side of the commerce park on Deer Creek Pass, about two blocks north of Sheridan Street.
Construction is scheduled to begin in May by Fort Lauderdale-based architects Falkanger & Associates. The facility should open by early 2001, Baker said.
Phil Saia, vice president of marketing for Bergeron Properties and Investment, said of the branch: “We’re excited about it. It will provide a nucleus for our park of commerce.
“This will change our thinking of the development of the park. The park is designed for industrial uses, but the south side will concentrate on the lighter industrial uses.”
Saia said the business park already is home to Rental Service Corp., one of the country’s largest construction equipment rental companies, as well as two concrete mixing companies and the local headquarters for Bergeron Land Development Company.
A 72,000-square-foot office, showroom and warehouse is under construction at the park as is a self-storage facility for boats and other recreational vehicles.
In addition, a 10-acre shopping center with a supermarket soon will be built across the street in the northeast corner of Sheridan Street and 196th Avenue.
Jodie Needle can be reached at or at 954-385-7908.
