DURAND, Mich. – SageLink CU yesterday broke ground on a new headquarters that will resemble a railroad depot, in recognition of the city’s background as a railroad center.
Architects hired by the $135 million credit union are studying Durand’s historic Union Station, where 42 passenger trains, 22 mail trains and 78 freight trains once passed through daily. Architects also are looking at train depots around the country in designing the new facility.
The decline in local rail traffic came to a culmination in 1974 when Union Station was abandoned. The city purchased the depot in 1979 and developed it into the State Railroad History Museum.
Construction is planned to begin on Aug. 1 for the 21,131-square-foot building that will include SageLink's sixth office location and house the credit union’s administrative staff. The project will cost about $3 million and is slated to be completed by May 2009.
The credit union is the product of a 2006 merger of Genesee First FCU and Shiawassee Community CU.
