×
×
homepage logo

First State plans new building in Basehor

By Caroline Trowbridge - | Mar 26, 2003

First State Bank, which essentially is landlocked at its site in Basehor, plans to construct a new bank building on the south side of U.S. Highway 24-40.

“We’ve essentially outgrown our current location over there,” said Bill New, chairman of the board for First State. “With the growth that the community is experiencing and with the growth in our business there, we felt perhaps we needed to relocate.”

The bank plans to construct a new building at the southwest corner of 155th Street and U.S. Highway 24-40. The new site is just south of the bank’s existing building.

New said he’s not on any specific construction timetable, and bank officials still are up in the air about whether to keep or sell the existing bank building. It is possible that building could be used for offices for bank employees. And New has heard from some potential purchasers, he said.

The size of the new bank building is dependent upon whether First State retains the existing building.

The bank holds an option on a tract, which it will exercise once the platting process is complete, New said.

The existing bank building actually was the first branch bank that was approved in Kansas. It opened in 1989. New said that at the time, he tried to purchase a larger lot for the bank, anticipating First State’s needs would exceed the site.

“It was the only place that we could locate in the general area of the highway,” he said.

Other sites were not properly zoned, he said.

The commercial and residential development in Basehor, along with the need for additional space, prompted First State to explore its options.

“We’re excited about it,” New said. “We’re excited about what’s going on in the Basehor community.”