Construction begins for new St. Charles Post Office
Members of SSM Health and St. Charles County Board each tossed their shovels full of dirt to officially break ground for the long awaited construction of the new Post Office in St. Charles.
Several members from various organizations made their way into the tent on Thursday for the groundbreaking ceremony.
The several parties expressed not only how much of a relief that the project is now underway but what this means in terms of development for the city. One key speaker, Mike Bowers the President of St. Joseph Health Center-St. Charles, expressed the issues of this prolonged assignment.
“We have three different parties involved, and different real estate transactions that have to happen and different very complicated funding sources. It took some time and it took a lot patience to get there.”
St. Charles will acquire the existing post office property and use the site for future hospital growth opportunities.
The president of Lindenwood University, Michael Shonrock, gave his insight on what it means for the city of St. Charles.
“It’s a great partnership that provides opportunity, as you know, for a hospital that’s so important to the area to be continue to grow and develop in this area in this county.”
The new Post Office will be located behind the Schnucks Store in the University Commons development, across from Lindenwood on nearly four acres of land donated by the campus.
Construction of the 5.2 million dollar facility is being funded by the SSM Health Saint Louis and the St. Charles County Road Board.
Bowers also spoke about what’s next for the growing hospital, “The next step as we build this will be a chance for us to take over the current property that’s by the hospital and we’ll eventually take that down, be in a position where can better platform our hospital to better serve the community and provide greater healthcare across the entire counties.”
Shonrock added, “It’s a win-win-win for everyone, and more importantly I think it shows the vibrant nature of this community and our ability to work together.”
The new St. Charles Post Office will be designed by architecture firm The Lawrence Group and Alberici Healthcare will take on the construction. The Post Office will cover about 22-thousand square feet and will be completed in June 2016.
