NILES — The historic Niles Post Office was recently outfitted with 14 new energy efficient windows early this month.

The building at 322 E. Main St., which was constructed in 1909 and formerly housed the post office, is owned by the Niles Utility Department. Construction on the approximately $126,000 window replacement project began March 26 and wrapped up April 5. The windows were supplied by Marvin Windows and Doors and the contract work was done by Zeeland Lumber.

City Utilities Manager Jeff Dunlap said some of the windows replaced were originals, making some of them more than 100 years old. He said the windows, which were single paned, had some leakage and rotten wood on the frames. Sun exposure on the south side of the building had exacerbated the deterioration problem, according to Dunlap.

“Some of the windows were in pretty poor shape and we did not see it as a viable option to restore them,“ Dunlap said. “They were past their time.”

City officials have been discussing what actions to take on repairing the historic building’s windows for a couple of years. The debate was whether to absorb the cost or let an interested buyer invest in window repairs instead.

But Dunlap said they found a deal on the windows earlier this year that was too good to pass up.

“We have been working on this for a couple years and we feel we got the best pricing,” Dunlap said. “… now was the time to move.”

There has been some significant interest in various companies to purchase the post office. Last year, the Secretary of State had proposed leasing the building, but later rescinded its offer. Not long after that, an undisclosed medical marijuana company offered to buy the building for $650,000, but council members expressed some skepticism about have a medical marijuana dispensary in the downtown.

Most recently, General Capital, a Wisconsin-based private real estate company, put in an offer on the building. The company has expressed interest in purchasing the building and turning it into workforce housing for millennials.

In August, General Capital company officials shared this proposal with Niles city council members during a committee of the whole meeting. Part of the offer was to reimburse the city for repair costs made to the building, meaning the window replacement could be reimbursed if the project proceeds.

Dunlap said before replacing the windows, he received approval for the windows’ replacement from the Historic District Commission in June. The windows selected for replacement matched the historic look of the building, per approval qualifications. The windows are also double paned and complemented by aluminum framing, making them energy efficient and cost effective.

Dunlap said the Utilities Department had budgeted for the repairs and that a special find had been set aside for the building.

Dunlap said there are no other major repairs that need to be completed on the building at this time. He said in the months to come, he hopes to finish repairs on the building’s broken clock, which hangs above the door.