Possibly the most iconic building in Fayetteville is going through some financial issues, 5NEWS Reporter Christine Whitten explains in a LIVE report.
The old post office building, located in the middle of the Fayetteville Square, was built in 1911 and was a post office until closing in the 1970s, leaving the building up for possible demolition.
An effort by locals not only kept the old post office from being demolished; it placed the building on the National Historic Register. Since then, the old post office has undergone several transformations. Most recently, it was a bar and grill, which closed in 2009.
The Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission attempted to buy the property in 2011 and 2012 to house the Fayetteville Underground, a home for area artists that includes galleries and artist events, but the $1 million deal fell through because the owner wanted $1.5 million and also because the commission lowered its offer later after an appraisal service assessed the property at $730,000, officials said. The property owner says the building has been assessed at $1.5 million.
The old post office achieved national historic status in 1978 for 40 years; any historical landmarks must be maintained and renovated, while still keeping its original character that got it on the National Historic Register, to keep its historical status.