After contemplating a move for decades, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 82 has purchased a larger union hall for $1.7 million.
The new building is a former funeral home in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood of Northeast Portland, at 1515 N.E. 106th Ave., Portland. At about 10,000 square feet, it’s roughly three times the size of the old building in the Concordia neighborhood.
Both buildings have quirks, but the quirks of the old space were getting expensive, Branch 82 President David Norton told the Labor Press. It had office space for Branch 82 staff, but not enough parking or space for meetings. The old building at 5265 N.E. 42nd St. was formed when a house and neighboring building were joined together.
“We had to make a decision whether we wanted to soak the money into that little building or … buy another building that would be something for the future,” Norton told the Labor Press.
Members talked about moving for years, but mostly just kicked the can down the road. Around a year ago, Norton and the executive board decided to start a more serious search.
“Buying a building with membership approval is not an easy process,” Norton said.
The new hall’s primary meeting space can accommodate around 100 people, Norton said. At the old location, 50 people would have been a crowded gathering.
Norton said the branch could rent out meeting space to other unions in the future.
“We can put our own stamp on this place but as far as the size goes, we’ll never need anything more,” Norton said.
Priority improvements include installing a fence around the property and a radon mitigation system. The 1960s building doesn’t have a full kitchen, which would be useful for the dinners served before monthly meetings, but it does have a studio apartment with a kitchenette tucked between offices upstairs. Signage that currently directs visitors to the chapel will eventually be replaced and a kitchen will be built.
Branch 82’s Feb. 12 general membership meeting will be the first at the new building. The branch is selling the old building; it’s 3,753 square feet and is listed for sale at $1.2 million.
Branch 82 has more than 2,000 members.
In Branch 82’s January newsletter, Norton described the activities that had taken place in the old union hall, from ballot counting and phone banking to float building and visits with Santa for his children, now nearly adults.
“I have shared meals, thoughts, aspirations, good times and bad with friends in that building … this funky little building on 42nd Avenue has been the epicenter of my union life for almost 20 years. The thought of leaving it has been a tough one for me,” Norton wrote. “Sometimes you must say goodbye to something meaningful in the spirit of progress, and this new building is not for me and my memories but for current and new carriers in Branch 82 to make new memories.”
