Former Southside Technical School Sold to Local Union for Training Center
16 Apr, 2026 - Tranzon Asset Advisors
Lexington, KY — [RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2026]
Tranzon Asset Advisors and Schrader Commercial Properties are pleased to announce that the Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) has entered into contract to sell the former Southside Technical Center located at 1800 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY. The purchaser is Local 452 - Plumbers & Pipefitters. The union will be utilizing the facility in similar fashion as FCPS had for over 45 years to train the next generation of first class trade craftsmen.
Southside Technical Center was originally constructed in 1976, serving thousands of students over its 49 years of service. The facility was retired in 2025 when FCPS centralized all technical education facilities to The Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership at 100 Midland Avenue which opened in August 2025.
The accepted contract price was $5,500,000.00 which exceeded the appraised value provided by an independent appraisal firm in 2025 to FCPS. Final approval of the agreement by the Kentucky Department of Education will be immediately sought and close of escrow must occur prior to June 30, 2026. The union, in cooperation with FCPS, will be pursuing a zone change in order to utilize the existing facility for a near identical use as the Technical School had been providing.
Significant positive outcomes from the sale include, continued similar use as the neighborhood has experienced for decades, property taxes will begin accruing for local government and a burgeoning professional tradesmen relationship with FCPS graduates who wish to enter the workforce for successful careers. A zoning change from R-1 (residential single family) is necessary, but not a contingency of the contract, because FCPS is exempt from local zoning regulations and also property taxes it was not required to conform to local zoning laws.
The property was subject to sale prior to the auction and with the continued use, strong return for the school system and substantial value in providing an important on-the-job learning location for Local 452 the decision to accept the offer by the Fayette County Board of Education was prudent and commercially reasonable. The sale of this well-known location is a “win-win” for the taxpayers, City of Lexington, the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union and the school board.
John Bunch of SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate represented Local 452 in the negotiations and has been instrumental to the successful conclusion of the transaction. Jamie Schrader of Schrader Commercial Properties and Ed Durnil of Tranzon Asset Advisors represented the FCPS in their negotiations.
Sale Details:
Price: $5,500,000.00
Buyer: AU Local 452 – Plumbers and Pipefitters – Lexington, KY
Seller: Fayette County Public Schools
Closing: On or Before June 30, 2026
Property Details
Property Name: Former Southside Technical Center Property
Address: 1800 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY
Parcel Size: Approx. 4.83± acres Building Size: 40,518 SF (±)
Year Built: 1976
Year Decommissioned: 2025 Current
Zoning: R-1 Single Family Detached
Utilities: Electric, Natural Gas, Sewer, Telephone, Cable available onsite
Brokerage, Auction Firm and FCPS Communications Contacts
Auction (Tranzon Asset Advisors):
Edward D. Durnil, President | CEO, Tranzon Asset Advisors
Phone: 866.243.8243 or taainfo@tranzon.com
Auction webpage: https://www.tranzon.com/taa2605
Brokerage (Schrader Commercial Properties):
Jamie Schrader, President, Schrader Commercial Properties
Phone: 859-288-5008 Email: jschrader@schradercommercial.com
Webpage: www.schradercommercial.com
Seller (FCPS) / Public Information:
Communications Contact: Miranda Scully, District Spokesperson
Phone: 859-494-5090 Email: miranda.scully@fayette.kyschools.us
Fayette County Public Schools — https://www.fcps.net/