LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport will hold an event this week to celebrate Bank of America’s donation of its former bank building, which the city will use as its new community center.
The community is invited to a public ceremony on Friday, June 7, where city officials will unveil a plaque recognizing the donation of the building and those responsible.
The event starts at 2 p.m. at the building, 500 N. Main St., with tours to follow.
Mayor Tim Barnes, Mayor Pro Tem George Spurr, and City Council members Stacey Mattina, Kenny Parlet and Mireya Turner will join City Manager Margaret Silveira and city staff in welcoming the public and representatives from Bank of America, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and Rep. Mike Thompson. State Sen. Mike McGuire plans to attend the ceremony.
Following Bank of America’s closure of its Lakeport branch in November 2017 due to declining foot traffic as more customers bank online and by mobile, Silveira approached bank officials and requested the donation of the building for public use as a Community Center, noting its proximity to the City’s planned open space development.
The city received funding from a Community Development Block Grant to study its lakefront and determine future uses to revitalize the area.
Community members participated in forums and surveys and identified a community center as a primary need for Lakeport. A large indoor meeting space and a location for children’s activities were high on the priority list for residents.
Silveira approached Bank of America about donating the building to the city.
According to Silveira’s request for the donation, “The bank building would be an ideal site for a community center for Lakeport. The size and openness of the building makes the transition effortless.”
The Lakeport City Council accepted the building from the Bank of America at its regular meeting on Jan. 15, as Lake County News has reported.
The facility will maintain a Bank of America ATM onsite.
“The City of Lakeport is undergoing efforts to revitalize its lakefront and other areas of town, and we were glad to be able to make our former property available to the City and the community,” said Jason Foster of Bank of America.
Through its contract with ENGIE Services for implementing energy conservation measures at various facilities, the city is constructing a solar canopy array over the parking lot, which will be available to the public when the center is not in use.
The building contains more than 6,400 square feet of open space that can be configured for a variety of community uses, including meetings and special events.
A.P. Giannini’s Bank of Italy opened in Lakeport at the southwest corner of N. Main Street and Second Street in February 1927. It became the Bank of America in 1930 when he and his partners merged the Bank of Italy and the Bank of America of California, resulting in the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, at the time the world’s largest commercial bank.
The “new” bank building was constructed in 1969 at the northeast corner of N. Main Street and Fifth Street, formerly the location of the Safeway grocery store.
More information about the ceremony and tours on June 7 and future use of the Lakeport Community Center is available from City Manager Margaret Silveira at 707-263-5615,
Extension 104.
City of Lakeport to hold June 7 event celebrating Bank of America’s donation of new community center
- Lake County News reports
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