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March 19, 2009
First Colony Bank settles in

By Jenny Andreasson
Winter Park/Maitland Observer Staff

A 31,000-square-foot office building is the newest addition to the community redevelopment corridor in Maitland.

The building, called Northbridge Office Centre, is a piece of the city's plan to revitalize the 2-mile-long Highway 17-92 business district, built in the 1950s and 60s.

Northbridge, a Trevi Development project, is the new home of Maitland's only locally owned community bank, First Colony Bank of Florida. A ribbon cutting was held March 12.

Maitland Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mary Hodge said Fifth Third Bank started out as a Maitland-based bank but has been sold several times, losing its "hometown flavor."

"Maitland is smaller than its surrounding communities, and now we have a hometown bank," she said, "and it's also a good anchor for our new downtown that is gaining momentum."

Maitland's commuter rail station will be built on this site and the neighboring Parker Lumber site.

"It was somewhat incredible when we held the ribbon cutting to be able to look out and envision the commuter rail station right outside their front door," Mayor Doug Kinson said.

Developer Vincent Pellicane, Trevi president, said last March that the development will have almost 200 feet of train tracks running across it and he will eventually provide 255 parking spaces for commuter rail riders.

Kinson said that as far as he knows, Northbridge is the first building completed on any commuter rail site.

"It's a good location now without a doubt," said Bruce May, president and CEO of First Colony and longtime Maitland resident. "With commuter rail, it goes from a good location to a great location."

First Colony was in a modular facility for about a year while it waited for its new digs. The new location features a full-service ATM, a night depository, drive-through tellers and safe deposit boxes. "We couldn't have any of those over at the old facilities," May said. "It enhances our product offerings."

The days of customers parking in a gravel lot are over, he said, with paved parking allowing easy access in and out of the bank.
First Colony is currently the only tenant in the building, but Pellicane said he has a host of prospective occupants lined up.

"We're pleased to have first colony as a tenant," Pellicane said. "We're looking positive in 2009."