Parachurch purchases former Erlanger Toyota headquarters building for $31 million

CINCINNATI, December 19, 2022 — JLL is pleased to announce that Answers in Genesis, a Christian apologetics parachurch organization, has purchased the Atlantic Corporate Center, or the former Erlanger Toyota headquarters building, from Corporex Companies for $31.3 million. The organization will transform the 205,000-square-foot, Erlanger, Kentucky-based complex into its headquarters and an educational center. JLL Managing Director Matt Waggoner and Senior Vice President Josh Gerth represented Answers in Genesis in the transaction.

With this Class A building’s flexible and expansive floor plans, it will house the organization’s K-12 school, Answers Academy, a center to aid Christian teachers, the Answers.TV streaming platform, a graphic arts division, Embark training program and more. The new headquarters will also be located near the Kentucky-based Creation Museum and Ark Encounter theme park, both of which are run by Answers in Genesis.

“We’re grateful to expand our organization in this wonderful community and spacious building,” said Answers in Genesis CEO Ken Ham. “This is an incredible opportunity to aggregate several of our operations under one roof and continue our work in Northern Kentucky. We’re elated to make this our home in the summer of next year.”

A draw for Answers in Genesis, the four-floor Atlantic Corporate Center touts a full-service cafeteria, state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor fitness trail, abundant parking, a medical clinic and a 100-person auditorium. It features 10-foot ceilings that allow for an abundance of natural light. Sitting on 38 acres, it also allows for additional buildings to be added in the future.

This purchase aligns with the growing trend of adaptive reuse in the Cincinnati office market, where large office buildings are being sold and repurposed for new uses, such as hotels, churches or apartment complexes.

“When Answers in Genesis tasked us with securing a building that could support its many functions and activities and create a campus with flexibility for future uses, it limited the universe of buildings and sites that would work,” Waggoner said. “With the inherent flexibility of the existing building for different functions, the dynamic site which includes walking trails, a lake and green space, and the ability to create a secure, self-contained campus, we believe the Atlantic Corporate Center fits the bill perfectly for the organization’s needs.”

Located within the scenic, 650-acre CirclePort International Business Park, the complex is located near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, as well as a variety of lodging, dining and transportation options, including the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky’s bus service. It also sits near the intersection of Interstate 275 and I-71/I-75 and is a 10-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati.