Genesee County Savings Bank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Genesee County Savings Bank
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Genesse County Savings Bank c. 1924
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| Location | 352 S. Saginaw St., Flint, Michigan |
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| Built | 1919 |
| Architect | Hodgson Brothers |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001836 |
| Added to NRHP | November 27, 2017 |
The Genesee County Savings Bank building is a historic office building in Flint, Michigan. You can find it at 352 South Saginaw Street. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. It's a cool example of old architecture and how cities change over time.
A Look Back: The Bank's Story
The Genesee County Savings Bank started way back in 1872. As the city of Flint grew, so did the bank! By 1915, it needed a bigger main office.
In 1916, the bank joined forces with the First National Bank of Flint. Both banks were getting too big for their spaces. Because Flint's economy was booming, they needed even more room.
So, in 1919, the Genesee County Savings Bank built this new, much larger building. It was designed by the Hodgson Brothers, famous architects from New York City. The bank grew a lot during the 1920s.
Later, in 1957, it merged with another bank to become Genesee Merchants Bank & Trust Co. The bank eventually moved its main office to the Genesee Towers building in 1968.
The Building Today and Tomorrow
By 2017, the Genesee County Savings Bank building had been empty for a long time. But exciting plans were made to bring it back to life!
A company called Uptown Development Corporation decided to turn the building into a 100-room hotel. Renovation work started in 2019. The project was expected to finish in 2020. This will give the old building a brand new purpose.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Genesee County Savings Bank building is very tall, with eleven stories. Its outside is made of a light-colored stone called limestone. It stands right on a corner lot at Saginaw and Kearsley streets.
The building has decorative ledges, called cornices, that go all the way around it. These help show off its height. The upper floors have big windows. These windows let in lots of natural light.
The top two floors were once used for important executive offices. They have a row of columns, known as a colonnade, around them. Above these columns is another deep cornice.
Some parts of the building's lower levels on Saginaw Street were updated later. They have a more modern look compared to the Kearsley Street side. During the recent renovations, plans included adding a cool rooftop deck.
