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Kentucky

KentuckyMarket ReportsOfficeSoutheastSoutheast Market Reports

Louisville’s Office Evolution Includes New Deals, Conversions

by John Nelson

Louisville is a city full of history, charm and grit. We’re the birthplace of Muhammad Ali, home to the Kentucky Derby and the heart of America’s bourbon culture.  As our city has grown, so have its business opportunities. Louisville’s geographic location, its logistics network and its diversified economy have attracted significant investment from global businesses to set down roots in recent years. In 2023, Louisville was named as a top 5 U.S. metro for economic development by Site Selection magazine with over $1 billion in capital investment and 2,300 new jobs that year alone. Louisville’s overall commercial real estate market has grown along with the population, but the office market has had a softer rebound following the pandemic than other markets nationally.  Office overview In second-quarter 2025, Louisville had over 235,000 square feet of positive office leasing activity that was negated by over 256,000 square feet of negative net absorption, primarily due to large move-outs from office users in the city’s suburban submarkets.  Leasing activity in Louisville’s Central Business District (CBD) has rebounded. In the second quarter, the submarket saw over 6,100 square feet of net positive absorption from Class A leasing activity, including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office lease …

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IndustrialKentuckyMarket ReportsSoutheastSoutheast Market Reports

Louisville’s Industrial Market: Steady, Sturdy and Poised for Growth

by John Nelson

Louisville’s industrial market stands out as a steady force, resisting the fluctuations often seen in surrounding Midwest cities such as Cincinnati, Columbus and St. Louis. Midyear figures show Louisville’s year-over-year rent growth exceeding the national percentage and its vacancy rate 340 basis points below the national rate, both signs of a healthy market.  Additionally, Louisville’s recognition in national trade publications and recent announcements of General Electric/Haier and Ford’s electric vehicle (EV) investment at its Louisville Assembly Plant suggests positive future job growth. A sturdy foundation Louisville’s centralized location has helped secure its place as a major logistical powerhouse and develop relationships with major industrial business players such as UPS, Ford and General Electric. UPS announced its first expansion into Louisville in 1981 and has continued to grow its operations since, including the recently opened $100 million automated medical labs shipping facility.  Ford also continues to invest in Louisville, recently leasing a 567,433-square-foot facility in Southern Indiana and a 426,300-square-foot facility in Louisville’s Bullitt County submarket just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Additionally, General Electric/Haier will move washer/dryer manufacturing processes to Louisville, creating 800 new jobs and confirming Haier’s Louisville manufacturing operations as its global hub.  A resilient market …

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KentuckyMarket ReportsRestaurantRetailSoutheastSoutheast Market Reports

Grocery Anchors Continue to Fuel Louisville’s Retail Market

by John Nelson

Louisville’s retail market continues to show strength in 2025, with grocery anchors driving much of the momentum. Despite national headwinds such as moderating rent growth and elevated construction costs, the metro has proven resilient, posting a vacancy rate of just 3.5 percent, outperforming the national benchmark of 4.8 percent, according to CoStar Group. Asking rents averaged $17.42 per square foot, reflecting steady demand across the region. At the center of this activity are grocers like Kroger, Publix and BJ’s Wholesale Club, each reshaping Louisville’s retail landscape in unique ways.  Kroger is deepening its footprint with multiple new stores, including a 123,000-square-foot location under construction on Beulah Church Road that is scheduled to open in 2026.  Publix, one of the most closely watched entrants to the Kentucky market, has expanded aggressively after opening its first store, securing 60,000 square feet at Blankenbaker Plaza and 56,000 square feet at Prospect Point.  BJ’s Wholesale Club has adopted a redevelopment approach, razing the former Sears building at Jefferson Mall to deliver a 104,000-square-foot store that opened earlier this year.  Collectively, these projects underscore the draw of essential, needs-based retail while fueling complementary leasing activity in their surrounding trade areas. Concepts gaining ground That momentum …

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AcquisitionsKentuckySeniors HousingSoutheast

LTC Properties Completes $40M Acquisition of Two Seniors Housing Communities in Kentucky

by John Nelson

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF. — LTC Properties has completed the acquisition of two seniors housing communities located in Kentucky. An undisclosed seller sold the properties for $40 million. Opened in 2023, the properties together total 158 units and feature assisted living and memory care residences. Charter Senior Living manages the communities, the locations of which were not disclosed. California-based LTC plans to execute an additional $195 million in seniors housing operating portfolio acquisitions by mid-October and an additional $90 million by the end of the year.

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AcquisitionsKentuckyRetailSoutheast

Berkeley Capital Advisors Negotiates $39M Sale of Westport Village Shopping Center in Louisville

by John Nelson

LOUISVILLE, KY. — Berkeley Capital Advisors has negotiated the sale of Westport Village, a 170,249-square-foot shopping center located at 1315 Herr Lane in Louisville. An affiliate of Richmond-based Hackney Real Estate Partners purchased the center from an affiliate of Savannah, Ga.-based Wicker Park Capital Management LLC for $39 million. David Webb, Alex Quarier and Alex McDonald of Berkeley Capital Advisors represented the seller in the transaction. Situated on 13.4 acres roughly 10 miles west of downtown, Westport Village houses 45 tenants, including Apricot Lane Boutique, Bend and Zen Hot Yoga, BoomBozz Pizza & Watch Party, Deka Lash, F45, North Lime Coffee & Donuts, Q’doba Mexican Grill, Steak & Bourbon, StretchLab, The Comfy Cow, The Wedding Studio, Westport Whiskey & Wine and Wild Eggs, among others.

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AcquisitionsKentuckyRetailSoutheast

Marcus & Millichap Brokers $3.6M Sale of Two-Property Retail Portfolio in Bowling Green, Kentucky

by John Nelson

BOWLING GREEN, KY. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $3.6 million sale of a two-property Dollar General portfolio in Bowling Green. Each retail property occupies 10,640 square feet on a 15-year corporate guaranteed lease with Dollar General Corp. Don McMinn and Andrew Koriwchak of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, a Kentucky-based developer, in the transaction. The buyer was not disclosed. Grant Fitzgerald was Marcus & Millichap’s broker of record in Kentucky.

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AcquisitionsKentuckySeniors HousingSoutheast

DMK Development Group Sells Four Seniors Housing Properties in Kentucky for $65.3M

by John Nelson

LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON, KY. — DMK Development Group has sold four senior living properties in Kentucky for a total $65.3 million. American Healthcare REIT was the buyer. Located in the Louisville and Lexington metros, the portfolio totals 316 units, with assisted living and memory care residences. Each of the properties was opened between 2020 and 2022. Trilogy Health Services managed the properties through lease-up and stabilization.

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AlabamaDevelopmentGeorgiaIndustrialKentuckySouth CarolinaSoutheastTennesseeTop Stories

GE Appliances Unveils $3B Investment to Expand U.S. Manufacturing Across Five States

by Kristin Harlow

LOUISVILLE, KY. — GE Appliances, a Haier company, has unveiled plans to invest more than $3 billion in its U.S. operations over the next five years. The company plans to expand its air conditioning and water heating portfolio, increase production output across all product lines and further modernize its 11 U.S. manufacturing plants with new automation and capital equipment. The first phase of investments will begin at GE Appliances plants in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. Upon completion of the plan, Louisville-based GE Appliances will have invested $6.5 billion across its U.S. manufacturing plants and nationwide distribution network since 2016, which is the year that the company was sold by General Electric (NYSE: GE) to Haier. The new $3 billion announcement marks the second-largest investment in the company’s history. The GE Appliances plant in Camden, S.C., currently produces gas water heaters. With the new investment, electric and hybrid water heater manufacturing will be added, doubling the plant’s output and employment once the project is complete. The first phase will be implemented by early 2026. In December, GE Appliances will add two new models of air conditioners to its air and water product portfolio at its Selmer, Tenn., plant. …

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DevelopmentIndustrialKentuckyMichiganMidwestSoutheastTop Stories

Ford Motor Co. to Invest $5B at Manufacturing Plants in Kentucky, Michigan

by John Nelson

LOUISVILLE, KY. AND MARSHALL, MICH. — Automotive giant Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) will invest $2 billion at its Louisville Assembly Plant and $3 billion at its BlueOval Battery Park Michigan factory. Combined, the investment will create and secure approximately 4,000 jobs across both plants, as well as spur dozens of new U.S.-based suppliers, according to Ford. Ford’s investments will help the automaker deliver a suite of electric vehicles (EVs), beginning with a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck that will be assembled at its Louisville plant. Ford plans to launch domestic and international sales of the new trucks, which are expected to be priced starting at $30,000, in 2027. Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford, says that the automaker will be the first in the country to make prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are cobalt- and nickel-free and serve as the floor of the new EVs. Ford plans to begin manufacturing the new prismatic LFP batteries for the new electric truck at BlueOVal Battery Park Michigan next year. Located in Marshall, Mich., the factory is under construction, with the shell built out and mechanical, electrical and piping infrastructure underway. Ford says that the lithium LFP battery cell …

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AcquisitionsKentuckyRetailSoutheast

Marcus & Millichap Brokers $5.9M Sale of Shopping Center in Monticello, Kentucky

by John Nelson

MONTICELLO, KY. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $5.9 million sale of Cumberland Crossing, a 94,366-square-foot shopping center located in Monticello. Situated on roughly 16 acres, Cumberland Crossing was 86 percent leased to tenants including Marshalls, Five Below, Farmers Home Furniture, Dollar Tree and Great Clips at the time of sale. Walmart, which has operated at the site since 2001, shadow-anchors the property. Zach Taylor and Eric Abbott of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller in the transaction. Grant Fitzgerald was the firm’s broker of record in Kentucky.

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