99217 New Zip Code For Growing Hillyard Area

Growth in Northeast Spokane forced the assignment of a new zip code in Hillyard. The zip code, 99217, went into effect on July 1.

The neighborhood’s old zip code was 99207.

“The hope is to expedite the delivery of people’s mail,” said Don Payton, manager of the Hillyard Postal Station just off Market and Olympic. “This area is growing, and we had to keep up with the pace.”

The Hillyard post office at 3117 E. Olympic currently serves 3,381 customers. That’s an increase of 600 to 700 customers since last year, Payton said.

Letters and packages sent to the former 99207 zip code will still reach their destinations.

“There’s a two-year grace period in effect,” Payton said. “After that time, letters and packages to 99207 will be returned.”

So far, Payton said there haven’t been any problems with the new numbering system.

“Overall it’s been very receptive,” he said. “There are always people who don’t want there to be change. But for the most part, we haven’t had a lot of complaints.”

The Hays Park Station post office at 3910 N. Crestline and the Hillyard post office previously shared postal delivery for the Hillyard neighborhood, Payton said.

Now, mail delivery for Hillyard residents is all being done from the Hillyard office.

“It’s just easier for one office to do it instead of two,” Payton said.

A significant part of the growth in the Hillyard postal area is due to the Northwood housing development, which is in a rural section east of Hillyard.

The new zip code includes the area east of Market and north of Mission. It stretches west to Perry along Francis and north to Magnesium and goes east to rural Spokane County, Payton said.

The growing region within the 99217 zip code will probably result in the construction of a new post office in the next two years, Payton said.

The current post office has been at Market and Olympic for 51 years, he said.

, DataTimes