The Clarendon post office in Arlington is now locking its public lobby overnight after staff reported a string of unsettling incidents inside the building. Employees say people have been starting small fires and relieving themselves in the lobby, so the doors are now shut daily from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Postal officials say the change is temporary while they install a new after-hours access system for PO box customers.
Overnight Lockup Tied To Safety, Sanitation Complaints
A sign posted on the entrance explains the nightly closures and notes that the post office is working with local authorities to deal with the situation, as reported by FOX 5 DC. According to the station, staff linked the change to repeated overnight incidents involving people sleeping in the public lobby and the resulting safety and cleanliness concerns.
PO Box Users Waiting On New Automated Entry
The Postal Service told FOX 5 DC it plans to roll out an automated entry system so PO box customers can still get to their mail after hours using a QR code or fob. The notice on the door asks customers to “please bear with us” while USPS works to provide a safe and clean environment for both employees and visitors, the station reported.
USPS has not given a date for when the system will be up and running, but said it will notify PO box holders directly once overnight lobby access is restored.
Historic Building, Modern Challenges
The Clarendon post office operates out of a historic Arlington postal building on Washington Boulevard, according to the county’s historic-resources inventory and Arlington County. Arlington County’s Department of Human Services oversees local homeless-response programs and the Centralized Access System that coordinates shelter and outreach for people in crisis, the county’s DHS notes. County outreach teams and nonprofit partners remain the main way officials connect unsheltered residents with shelter and services.
What Postal Customers Should Do Now
PO box customers are being told to watch for direct updates from USPS about timing for the new entry system and any changes to access. Until then, anyone who needs in-person postal services will have to visit other nearby USPS retail locations during business hours or use the Postal Service’s online tools. USPS has said it will alert box holders as soon as the new after-hours system is ready to go.
