On April 8, ground broke on another new development adding to the Carbondale Marketplace complex. Nestled between Highway 133 and Hendrick Drive, ANB Bank’s 27,000-square-foot “Sopris Station” mixed-use development was approved in October 2023 and is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2026.
In addition to a new banking center — relocating ANB Bank from its current address less than half a mile north — the building will include 16 apartment units and around 10,000 square feet of commercial space available for lease. The residential portion includes one and two-bedroom apartments for rent and the commercial space will be equipped for potential restaurant use.
“Our local Carbondale bank team is very excited about the construction of our new energy-efficient bank and apartments,” stated Community Bank President Tony Spires in a press release. “This new location will allow us to service our customers more efficiently along with providing housing for ANB Bank’s Mountain Region employees and the Town of Carbondale community.”
The energy efficiency Spires refers to involves on-site solar panels offsetting 33% of estimated energy usage, electric vehicle charging stations, locally sourced materials and design features making use of passive solar. The project is all-electric, with the exception of gas hook-ups for that potential restaurant.
The road to approval involved a significant detour in 2021, when ANB Bank went back to the drawing board after receiving an underwhelming response from the Carbondale Board of Trustees. Back then, the plan was to subdivide the lot, purchased by ANB Bank in 2019, and sell the southern portion. The redesign makes full use of the entire lot with a two-story building that adds to Carbondale’s housing stock, including three deed-restricted dwelling units. Also, a scrutinized drive-thru was removed from the design.
Along with the new building there will be a public pedestrian corridor cutting across what was formerly a field to connect a sidewalk along Highway 133 with Hendrick Drive. Additionally, the outside lane of the roundabout will be extended back to the turnout connecting Highway 133 and Hendrick Drive. Carbondale Public Works Director Kevin Schorzman estimates that road work will take place this summer. He explained that an extended lane was favored over an acceleration lane so motorists aren’t distracted by merging just ahead of the roundabout.
As for the current building at the corner of Dolores Way and Highway 133, approval of the new development came with the condition that ANB Bank reach out to the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) to entertain a possibility of RFTA acquiring that property, conveniently located just next to the Park and Ride.
According to Laura Schmult, first senior vice president and senior digital officer at ANB Bank, “Now that the project has received its permit and construction is underway, ANB will be engaging a real estate broker to begin the disposition effort of the Dolores Way property. This effort will include reaching out to RFTA regarding their interest.”