The landmark former Birkenstock building in Novato, a long-time fixture for Highway 101 commuters, has again hit the market. This particular building, noted for its distinctive white undulating roof and protruding triangles, was the German shoe company's U.S. headquarters until 2020 and now seeks new ownership, according to Silicon Valley Business Journal.
Located at 8171 Redwood Blvd., the 88-acre property, which includes a 174,000-square-foot warehouse along with a 33,000-square-foot office space, is being offered for sale by Novato Redwood Properties Inc., an affiliate of the Birkenstock family. The property has gone through periods of interest and near-sales before getting delisted in 2019, and this time, James Manley, an agent with Keegan & Coppin Co. Inc., targets a selling price ranging from the high $30 million to low $40 million. The property's appeal broadened due to its potential flexibility and high construction standards, including a roof that was redone in 2018, according to the North Bay Business Journal.
The former headquarters remains a prime piece of real estate with its expansive warehouse and office space, which offers possibilities for redevelopment, including speculative development or technology-oriented uses. The property's design, which dates back to its original purpose as McGraw-Hill's publishing house, allows for considerable flexibility in reconfiguration due to the unique post-supported structure. "The construction approach to it, the design and the construction, is really unique," James Manley told Silicon Valley Business Journal.
Interest in the location spans various sectors, from speculative developers to companies in the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence industries; this interest comes despite the need for a power supply upgrade to meet the demands of such modern industries, options for which might include extending higher capacity power lines or installing a solar farm on the sun-facing land behind the buildings, adding to the site’s adaptability. Manley said that the readily identifiable landmark was built to "very high standards," having required little maintenance over the years, so it's maintained its structural integrity very well; the distinct roof's latest renovation in 2018 further exemplifies the property's durability, information gathered by the North Bay Business Journal indicates.
