Local News in Brief : Work to Start on New Post Office in Sylmar

Construction of a $2.9-million U.S. Post Office in Sylmar, intended to relieve crowding at two smaller post offices in the area, will begin on Monday, postal service officials said.

It is the first post office to be built in Sylmar. For 53 years, the community has been served by two annex offices in leased buildings on Glenoaks Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

Growth of the Sylmar area led to the need for the new post office, officials said. In the last five years, mail volume has doubled in the area, from 26 million pieces in 1982 to 52 million in 1987.

Also, population has increased in the Sylmar ZIP code area. In 1980, for instance, 50,605 residents used the 91342 ZIP code. The new Sylmar office will serve about 68,000 people now in the 91342 ZIP code area.

It will be a year before the 30,285-square-foot post office at 13700 Foothill Blvd. will open for business. The one-story, masonry building will include parking for 53 customers, service at six lobby windows and 2,575 boxes for rent.