Saab eyes Royal Oak rehab for North American HQ

metromode, 10/15/2009

Saab is looking at moving its North American headquarters to a small industrial-turned-chic-office building on the north side of Royal Oak.

The Swedish automaker is in negotiations to move into the home of Ronnisch Construction Group, 4327 Delemere Court between 14 Mile and Normandy Roads. It is trying to negotiate a tax credit for the move and the lease for the 13,300-square-foot building.

This building wasn't always in such demand. It was a dumpy, single-story industrial structure with a beautiful view of railroad tracks before Ronnisch took it over three years ago.

"It's a unique building in that it was an abandoned industrial building," says Janet Gekiere, business development and marketing manager for Ronnisch Construction Group. "It was a mess, to say the least."

Ronnisch rehabbed it into an edgy, modern office building to show its clients the possibilities. Impressed Saab officials from Sweden, seeing the same potential that Ronnisch saw years ago in what most people consider a tear down, requested to move in.Similar industrial-to-office conversion projects are being done by other developers near downtown Royal Oak and in Ferndale.

"Some people can't see beyond what they see," Gekiere says. "They can't see the structure."

Ronnisch plans to move its 15 employees into a new space in the Royal Oak area once the deal is struck.

Source: Janet Gekiere, business development and marketing manager for Ronnisch Construction Group
Writer: Jon Zemke

Royal Oak