By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The groundbreaking for the new Fifth Third Bank was a little behind schedule.
The ceremonies, which generally take place before a building is started, were not performed until Tuesday, May 24.
But, the construction on the facility in the Rural King parking lot was well under way that morning when representatives from Fifth Third, Niles Township and the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce gathered for the actual groundbreaking.
The building is almost completely framed and about one month ahead of schedule, Reimers said. Slocum Associates Architects of Kalamazoo and Shelton Construction of Benton Harbor were hired to complete the project. Shelton also added Stock Building Supply out of Lansing.
Reimers said the new location is intended to replace the facility currently at 1012 S. 11th St. The newest branch is designed with seven teller windows, four drive-thru windows and two drive-up ATMs, as well as 10 offices for private banking and mortgage officers.
The building's location in Niles Township was also one of the most important assets. Reimers said the visibility close to the road and the amount of access available at the spot were also key points to building on South 11th Street.
The chosen location was also appreciated by representatives of the township and Chamber of Commerce.
The new Fifth Third Bank on South 11th Street is scheduled to open around Aug. 15.