Sunmark plans building at site of Rotterdam Friendly's

The plan for the 1,507-square-foot Sunmark Federal Credit Union to be built in Rotterdam at 1300 Altamont Ave., where the former Friendly's restaurant building currently stands. The current building is set to be demolished and replaced by the credit un...

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The former Friendly’s restaurant building in Rotterdam is going down.

At the town’s last Planning Commission meeting, the board approved a concept site plan for Sunmark Federal Credit Union to demolish the existing 3,105-square-foot old Friendly’s and build a branch of the credit union in its place.

The proposed Rotterdam Sunmark will be 1,507 square feet on a 0.86-acre parcel.

Town Planner Pete Comenzo said the credit union is in contract to purchase the property located at 1300 Altamont Ave.

“The building itself is really neat looking,” Comenzo said of the drawing of the proposed credit union Thursday. “It’s not what you’d expect of your typical bank or credit union facility.”

The building will have a drive-thru, with a modern combination of stone and glass.

“It will be all interconnected with the adjacent Walmart property, and will be very convenient,” Comenzo said. “It’s different and very exciting — it’s definitely not your cookie-cutter credit union.”

Comenzo said Sunmark is not closing an existing branch to build the Rotterdam site.

“The old Friendly’s building has sat there for about five years, so this will be a good addition to the town,” he said. “It was received well by the Planning Board, and should be fairly straight-forward to get things moving.”

There is no set date for the demolition or construction, but the town expects both to begin and be completed this year.

Reach Gazette reporter Kate Seckinger at 395-3113, [email protected] or @KateSeckinger on Twitter.