A company is reinvesting in an Osborne Street property to build a full-service bank.

Seneca Falls Savings Bank has owned the building across from Wegmans, 10 Osborne St., for years but demolished it this spring after the tenants left.

While the company bought the apartment building in 2005, employees drafted a timetable when construction crews would raze the structure and begin erecting a new bank branch.

“We're taking this one step at a time,” said Menzo Case, executive vice president for the bank.

The bank had help with demolition.

First, the Auburn Police Department conducted special weapons and tactics training in the six-unit apartment building.

Then, the Auburn Fire Department set up the building for its training, which included cutting holes in walls.

Another agency benefited from the deal as well. Crews salvaged much of the interior such as fixtures, appliances, countertops and doors for the Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County before handing it over to other government agencies for training, Menzo said.

Seneca-Cayuga Bancorp Inc. operates the Seneca Falls Savings Back.

Currently, it has a branch in the Auburn Wal-Mart store.

Case said the bank aims to begin construction soon, but still needs to wait for permits and design approval from city boards.

The opening date for the branch also is not set yet.

“It all depends. We hope by the end of this year, but there are a lot of cogs in that wheel,” Case said.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or

jessica.soule@lee.net