RIVERSIDE, Calif. -
When credit unions build or remodel branches, they ask for opinions from consultants, architects, engineers, but sometimes the most important opinion to seek, is that of the neighbors.
Altura CU sought to revamp a branch that sits on the edge of a commercial district leading into a residential neighborhood. According to Ron Woodbury, Altura's executive vice president, chief information and administrative officer, area residents feared a plan to move ATMs would disrupt traffic and cause problems.
"In response to the objections by the community, we made a significant change to the layout, the traffic flow and the building," Woodbury said. "People really just wanted to be involved."
The branch in question originally was built in the mid-1970s. Woodbury said it was the "home office" of three branches, so it held the CU's administrative offices. In 2002, what then was known as Riverside County's Credit Union built a corporate center in another location and moved the administrative functions, which left too much office space at the branch. Over the course of multiple remodels between construction and 2007, the building went from 6,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet, before being taken back to 7,500 square feet.
In the most recent remodel, Altura also wanted to move the drive-up ATMs to create an "island" in the middle of the parking lot. Woodbury said the changes helped make conditions safer for pedestrian traffic, which formerly had to cross auto traffic approaching and exiting from the ATMs.
"We had to go to the planning commission due to the movement of the ATM locations," he recalled. "The commissioners weren't used to people coming to them with a project that was reducing a building's size."
The number of parking spaces in the lot remained the same, but Woodbury said the redesign created a more effective drive-up lane for the ATMs. "Previously, if five or six cars were in line, traffic would spill over into the street. Now, it can hold 15 or 16 cars. It is a much more efficient lot."
When the CU's administrative staff occupied the branch, many employees had to park in the neighborhood streets, Woodbury noted. Moving the administrative offices eliminated a number of employee cars, but the previous configuration left many spaces unusable due to the ATM drive-up traffic.
By working together with the neighborhood residents, Woodbury said Altura added a couple feet to the height of a brick wall along the side of the property, and added some shrubbery and foliage to block light.
"In addition, we installed speed bumps to slow traffic in the parking lot and added signs asking members and ATM patrons to be considerate and keep their radios down.
"Everything worked out," he continued. "The complaints at the planning commission meeting stemmed from the neighborhood's desire to be involved in the project. They wanted their concerns to be aired and listened to. We did, and there have been no complaints since."
The branch's reopening took place in May. Today it is a "regular" branch plus drive-up ATMs, and holds no administrative offices. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com
