SHORELINE— Business men and women sporting hard hats — instead of top hats — were in style at the ground breaking ceremony for the new Shoreline Bank Tuesday Feb. 17.
Construction began Feb. 9 on what will soon be the new home office of Shoreline Bank. The main branch is currently located near 185th and Midvale Avenue in the Gateway Center.
Jeffrey Lewis, the president and CEO, said the new location will be more visible and will represent a more substantial presence and investment in the community. The new building is projected to cost $3 million dollars.
Lewis said he has anticipated ground breaking on a new building for quite some time. About 20 months ago, the board embarked on identifying a location, which was officially decided May 2003. The chosen site, on 160th and Aurora, was formerly a gas station.
Lewis anticipates a five month construction period, and said the building should be completed in July 2004.
“The new facility will allow us to grow in years to come,” Lewis said.
When the new branch is open, the 20 employees from the Gateway Center location will relocate to the new home office. Lewis said he will eventually be hiring additional employees.
Larry Steele, who has been on the board since 1999, said the new branch will have great exposure in the Shoreline community. He said the board has been heavily involved in the planning for several years and it has all come together recently. He said one of the new features of the branch, a drive thru window, will provide much ease for customers.
In addition to a drive thru, the new branch will be two stories high and will span 9,000 square feet.
Mayor Ron Hansen, who was present at the ceremony, said he is pleased that Shoreline is the home base for the bank.
“It is great to see Shoreline Bank with a third office now underway,” Hansen said.
The bank originally formed in October 1999 and currently serves over 900 households and 300 businesses and has grown to over $50 million in assets. A branch of the bank recently opened in TOP Food &Drug Feb. 4.
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