Families and Schools Together Federal Credit Union celebrated the start of renovation to the former Sears building in downtown Hanford with a groundbreaking and pillar-signing ceremony Thursday morning attended by dozens of people. A drill stuttered as it tore through concrete ground. Flashes of cameras snapped pictures during the groundbreaking ceremony in what will be the start of new life in the building, slated to be completely renovated by fall 2009.

FAST Credit Union also invited guests to sign a pillar inside the building to leave a legacy. Dozens of guests scrawled in black ink their names across a pillar amid toasts of drinks.

Once a thriving cornerstone of downtown, the building has been vacant for nearly a decade.

"It has been an eyesore," said Ron Allvin, chairman of the FAST Credit Union board of directors, in an interview.

But FAST Credit Union last year purchased the landmark; a facility that dates back to the late 1940s. At that time, Sears was the retail giant in town.

Now, FAST Credit Union aims to refurbish the building into a thriving gem of downtown.

"It will become the jewel of Hanford," said Paula Lehn, chief executive officer of FAST Credit Union.

Plans call for the headquarters of FAST Credit Union on the first floor, along with stores, offices and restaurants on the second. No tenants have signed on yet, but there have been talks with them, according to Lehn.

The renovation, done by a San Luis Obispo-based architect, Rick Rengel, will make the former Sears building blend in with the traditional downtown look. It will cost about $5 million, complete with state-of-the-art air conditioning and lighting.

"It will be a 1946 building with 2010 technology," Rengel said in an interview.

FAST Credit Union has grown from its small size in 1953 with about $35 in deposits to about $80 million in assets today, making it the largest locally owned financial institution in Kings County. It once served educational memberships to now anyone in Kings County. It offers a full spectrum of financial services from simple savings and loans to investments and financial counseling.

"Our financial family is strong having not participated in the current sub-prime loan debacle," Allvin said to a crowd of dozens. "FAST Credit Union decisions are made locally, not in Fresno or San Francisco."

With the financial muscle of FAST Credit Union backing the renovation of the old Sears building, the project has attracted much local interest. Several city councilmembers of Hanford attended the event.

"Downtown Hanford is the heart of the city," said councilman Dan Chin. "There can't be a strong community without a strong heart. FAST makes the community strong by revitalizing the heart."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2423.

(Oct. 10, 2008)