A month has passed and no movement has been made toward keeping a downtown postal presence.

The U.S. Postal Service has housed postal boxes and a service window in the lower level of a five-story federal building on Crawford Street since the 1930s. The possibility of keeping a downtown location has been in question, though, since the building was purchased by Delta Court LLC to make way for a planned luxury hotel. The lower level is sparse with one postal worker, minimal operating hours and no heat or cooling.

USPS, which operates postal headquarters at a building built in 1992 on Pemberton Square Boulevard, has announced at least four times the desire to hire a contract operator to provide box and window service in a different downtown location.

In a move to keep postal service downtown, where repeat customers have proved the need, Mayor Laurence Leyens met with leaders of community organizations in early February to try to entice a contractor. None has been found.

Doug Kyle, a postal service spokesman, said he continues to wait for word from Leyens.

USPS officials have tried to find an existing business or an individual who could provide a space for a contract postal unit, or satellite post office. The units, which take up about 150 square feet, are operated by businesses or individuals under a partnership with USPS and provide a place to purchase stamps and other products, as well as a center to mail letters and packages. Post office boxes would also be part of the plan, which could bring income up to $45,000.