The old Bank of Everglades Building is one of those landmarks you keep an eye on. If you’ve driven past it lately, you’ve probably noticed it looking more finished every week.

The foundation, elevator shaft, balcony, and ramp are all complete. The steel columns that hold up the balcony and the outside stairs are in place, the exterior concrete staircase came together earlier this spring, and the final covers just went up over the second-floor windows, closing the building in and protecting all the work inside.

If you’ve looked around back, you’ve seen the temporary blue coverings over the rear entrances. Those are just standing in for what’s coming. In the next phase they’ll become French doors on the second floor and a new back door entrance. The architect’s rendering gives you a wonderful idea of how the building will look once it’s all finished.

It’s something to watch this iconic buildings come back to life, and none of it happens without the donors and neighbors behind it. The Society is still seeking both private and county funding to finish the job. Once it’s done, the building will be home to the Everglades Area Welcome Center, an arts and cultural hub, and the Trail Town Headquarters, giving this old bank a real place in our community again.

If you’d like to learn more or pitch in, you can call Patty at 239-719-0020 or visit https://evergladessocietyforhistoricpreservation.org/our-projects/.

You may also be interested in the Bank of Everglades Building Project Update for May or how the Bank of Everglades Restoration reached the end of Phase I.