Another Highlight in the Ongoing Revitalization of Pontiac, Mich.

Dr. Deirdre Waterman, the mayor of Pontiac, Mich., quipped during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new George W. Auch Co. headquarters that “Two Men and a Truck had to change its name to four men and a truck — for all the people moving into Pontiac.”

We’re proud that RACER Trust’s buyers had something to do with that.

AUCH is the latest in a series of buyers who have invested in new development and job creation at RACER’s former Pontiac properties, a roster that also includes Industrial Realty Group, Williams International, M1 Concourse, Ultimate Soccer Arenas and Rivore Metals. Together, these investments are resulting in hundreds of new jobs, restoration of tax base and an increase in local tourism.

We’re thrilled with each of these investments, all of which are unique and valuable to the community. The AUCH project is particularly inspiring because design features of the building maximize energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact, including an open floor plan that makes use of extensive natural daylight and a lighting system that adjusts automatically to the natural light. The building is projected to be U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver certified. In addition, the parking lot uses natural drainage swales to manage storm water runoff, considerably reducing the loading on local infrastructure.

AUCH President Vince DeLeonardis and his team have done a fabulous job transforming a long-vacant property into a cornerstone of Pontiac’s ongoing downtown revitalization. We’re so impressed that we’ve set up a page on the RACER website to highlight AUCH’s work, including a time-lapse video that shows the building under construction. Check it out.