Broken mailboxes at Richmond apartment complex deliver frustrations for some tenants

RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) -- Mail woes in Richmond are spiking frustration for some neighbors.

Neighbors at the Lamar Park Apartments say some of the mailboxes have been broken for years, forcing some people to find alternative ways to get their mail.

Several neighbors are waiting for the apartment management to deliver a long-term solution.

ABC13 spoke to one woman who says the mailbox receptacle was vandalized years ago. She says the postman can't put the master key into some mailboxes to unlock them because of the damage.

Charisse Wyche says it's been about three years since she received mail at her mailbox.

"Someone vandalized our mailboxes," Wyche said.

Forcing her and other neighbors to drive to the post office to get their own mail.

"Because I'm tired of going to the post office, waiting in line when they're always busy," Wyche said.

She says repairs have never been made.

"Very frustrating. It's been three long years, and no one is doing anything about it," Wyche said. "And it would be nice for somebody to do something. Help us out!"

She says apartment management told her the United States Postal Service would need to make those repairs.

USPS confirms apartment complex management is responsible for the repair of broken mail receptacles and their costs.

In a statement to ABC13, they said the following:

"The security and sanctity of the mail is of paramount importance to the U.S. Postal Service. This includes ensuring mail receptacles are secured and in good condition at all times. Local postal management is aware of an ongoing issue regarding damaged mail receptacles at this specific apartment complex in Richmond, TX. The current condition of the damaged mail receptacles does not allow for secure delivery of mail. Postal Service guidelines specify that postal customers are responsible for ensuring appropriate mail receptacles are provided for the receipt of mail, which includes door, curbside, and centralized delivery via a CBU. Furthermore, current Postal Service guidelines specify that the responsibility for purchasing, installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing mail receptacles falls on the customer or, where applicable, apartment property management companies and homeowners' associations (HOA), except in limited circumstances. Local management is currently working with the property manager to resolve the matter. In the interim, residents may continue to pick up their mail at the Richmond Post Office, located at 5560 FM 1640 Rd., Richmond, TX 77469, from Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We apologize to our valued customers for any inconvenience that may have been caused and appreciate their patience as we work to resolve this matter successfully."

"I think everybody should have access to their own personal mail," a different neighbor, Joe Palacios, said.

Palacios says this issue is affecting only a number of tenants.

He's been receiving his mail, but says he wants to see the problem resolved for his neighbors and cameras to be installed.

"It's on their property, and we are paying rent here, so they should pay for it," Wyche said.

The management team at Lamar Park Apartments told ABC13 they are in talks with USPS to work on a deal to repair and replace the mail receptacles. They said USPS told them they need to install metal mail receptacles.

They were unable to provide a timeline of how soon this will be done, so all tenants can start to receive their mail again.

It's unclear why it's taken years for repairs to be done.

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