NEWS

Georgetown Seeks Tenant for Historic Bank Building

The former Georgetown State Bank building is one of the city’s most important downtown structures. The vacant building is in good shape, but needs a new use.

Georgetown State Bank Building

In the Bank

The Georgetown State Bank has been a key building in the Georgetown community since it was built in 1909. After opening as the town’s first bank and later serving as Town Hall, today the building offers unique historic space to start or grow a business.

The Town of Georgetown is seeking proposals for the redevelopment of the former bank, one of the most architecturally significant structures in the National Register-listed Georgetown Historic District. Located at 9110 State Road 64, the building offers approximately 1,600 square feet on the first floor and an additional 840 on the second level.

Prior to the bank’s construction, residents had to travel nine miles to the county seat of New Albany to do their banking. Town officials operated out of offices at the back of the building for years before finally purchasing the building in the early 1980s, using it as Town Hall until 2009.

The building retains much of its original architectural character, including a Mesker cast iron storefront and ornate historic safe. Indiana Landmarks partnered with the Town of Georgetown on two recent grant-funded projects to completely rehabilitate the building’s exterior, including installing a new roof in 2016, and repairing masonry, windows and the storefront in 2018.

“For over 100 years, the state bank building has been a key part of the downtown Georgetown landscape,” commented Town Council President Chris Loop. “The Town Council has made investments in the building to ensure it will continue to be around for another 100 years. It is ready for a new tenant or owner to add to the rich history of downtown Georgetown.”

The town is looking for a developer who will rehabilitate the interior for a commercial use consistent with the town’s downtown revitalization plan, adopted in 2017.

Lease, lease-to-purchase and purchase proposals will be considered. Any alterations to the interior or exterior must preserve the historic materials and character of the building and are subject to review and approval by the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. The Town will consult with Indiana Landmarks to evaluate proposals, considering qualifying factors including prior rehab experience, financial capacity for the project, and overall benefit to the historic district.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 4 p.m. on Friday, October 30. Questions may be directed to Town Council President Chris Loop, 812-951-3012, or Greg Sekula, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Southern Regional Office, 812-284-4534. More information is available at georgetown.in.gov.

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