Bozeman, Mont. — A historic downtown Bozeman building that houses the post office is being put up for sale, raising questions about what comes next for the site on Babcock Street.
Federal offices and the U.S. Postal Service moved into the building in 1966. Now, 60 years later, the property has hit the market following an announcement on Thursday, July 23rd from the U.S. General Services Administration.
The agency said in a press release that the sale is part of a broader effort to move away from properties that no longer fit federal real estate needs.
"GSA is taking decisive action to offload properties that don't align with the government's real estate needs.... disposing of the Bozeman Federal Building will reduce costs for American taxpayers by opening the property to new investment while benefitting the community," said U.S. General Services Administrator Edward C. Forst.
City officials told NonStop Local the post office could remain in the building as a tenant, but nothing has been finalized since the announcement of the sale on Thursday, July 23rd.
The City of Bozeman sent out a press release to media members on Friday, July 24th, detailing plans to potentially preserve the building, through the Historic Surplus Property Program. The program is put on through the National Parks Service, which allows local governments to retain historic buildings that had once been used by the Federal government at no cost.
The uncertainty around the future of the federal building and the post office is being felt among Bozeman community members as well. Residents who spoke with NonStop Local said they want a central post office option to remain available because the only other Bozeman location right now is on Baxter Lane.
Larry Growney, a Bozeman community member, said the change would be personal after decades of using the site.
"So, I'll miss it really big time" said Growney. "I've had a P.O box here for more than 20 years; 26, 25 years and, you know, it's been very convenient".
The planned sale is part of a larger GSA property disposal effort that has been underway since January of 2025. The agency reported it had disposed of 127 properties and avoided more than $1 billion in maintenance and operating costs.
GSA says no future owner has been identified, and no future use for the building has been determined at this time.