TAMPA - MacDill Federal Credit Union has bought 25 acres in Brandon with plans to start construction on a $20-million headquarters in April.
The credit union, which has swelled to more than 165,000 members, said it has outgrown its 60,000-square-foot headquarters on S Dale Mabry Highway just north of the entrance to MacDill Air Force Base. That 11-acre site, which the credit union owns, will go on the market soon.
"We feel this next step in our growth puts us one step closer to our goal, which is being the best credit union in the country," said Robert Fisher, president and chief executive officer.
The new complex will be built near the intersection of Faulkenburg Road and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. Plans call for a 125,000-square-foot, five-story tower; a parking garage; and two smaller buildings on each side of the tower. The smaller buildings, totaling 15,000 square feet, will house a training center and an employee break area.
Emily Nichols, project development manager, said the tower will be able to house up to 500 employees, which should meet growth needs for the next eight years. The credit union now has 400 employees.
Eventually, MacDill envisions building a second phase that would mirror the first, Nichols said.
Crescent Realty sold the parcel to MacDill for $3.5-million, or about $3 per square foot.
The financial services company also has bought a 2.25-acre site on Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park to build its 17th area branch.
The credit union opened in 1955 in a broom closet on the Air Force base, catering to the needs of civilian personnel during lunch breaks. It now has more than $1.4-billion in assets, making it one of the largest credit unions in Florida. The biggest is Suncoast Schools of Tampa.
Expanding far from its military roots, MacDill's membership is open to the employees of 1,900 affiliated companies throughout the bay area as well as active and retired military personnel.
Nichols said that there was some discussion of staying closer to the Air Force base but that the deal was tough to turn down. Plus, she said, the demographics of Brandon are hard to ignore.
"The growth keeps heading out that way," she said.
"I think it's a wonderful announcement," said Mike Fencel, chief executive officer of Brandon Regional Hospital and outgoing chief of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. "I think it does reflect the continued growth and opportunities we see here."
- Times staff writer Jay Cridlin contributed to this report. Jeff Harrington can be reached at 813 226-3407 or harrington@sptimes.com
