Southgate’s refurbished Bank Tower gem opens with ribbon cutting
Beztak and Gordon Begin Properties joined local leaders, project partners and members of the community to celebrate the grand opening of The Bank Tower Apartments, marking the completion of a transformative redevelopment that has given one of Downriver’s most recognizable buildings an entirely new purpose.
Located on Trenton Road in Southgate, The Bank Tower was originally constructed as the headquarters of Security Bank & Trust and later known as Southgate Tower.
After sitting vacant, the landmark building was purchased in 2021 by an entity owned by members of the Begin family, who saw an opportunity to preserve an important piece of the area’s history while creating something entirely new for the community.
Multiple options
Today, The Bank Tower features 216 apartment homes, with floor plans ranging from studios to two-story penthouses, alongside amenities and design elements that celebrate the building’s distinctive past.
“The Bank Tower is special because it is truly connected to this community and its history,” said Alex Begin of Gordon Begin Properties.
“From the beginning, our goal was to respect the heritage of the building while creating something that felt entirely new. As much as it is practical for a residential building, we wanted to make the Bank Tower available to a broad segment of the public.
“Seeing that vision come to life and celebrating it together with so many of the people who helped make it possible is incredibly meaningful.”
Thoughtfully redeveloped
The redevelopment thoughtfully incorporates many of the building’s original features into the residential experience.
The former bank branch and its distinctive mid-century modern ceiling have been preserved, while other spaces have been creatively reimagined for a new generation.
The original safety deposit box vault has been transformed into a resident social space, the former truck well has taken on new life as a parking garage, and the former drive-through teller building will be repurposed as an electric vehicle charging station.
The grand opening celebration brought together many of the public and private partners who helped make the ambitious redevelopment possible.
New park, too
The Bank Tower Redevelopment also extends beyond the building itself. For the last three years, the City of Southgate has administered a $5 million Wayne County ARPA grant that funded the creation of a new public park on the property and a pedestrian bridge connecting nearby Kiwanis Park.
Gordon Begin Properties has worked closely with both the County and the City to make these new recreational opportunities of reality.
The grand opening event was followed by an open house which had over 800 attendees from the community. Tours showcased the updates to the building, model units, and the Historical Foundation provided artifacts and memorabilia from the Security Bank & Trust Building, currently available to view at the Historical Museum.
Construction of The Bank Tower was managed by The Alan Group, with architecture led by Design Studio g+G Architecture and Constantine George Pappas Architecture. The community is professionally managed by Beztak.
For more information about The Bank Tower Apartments, click here.
