Fort Thomas Property Goes To Throwback Look

FTM file. 

A cornerstone property that is for lease has undergone a facade change that has some Fort Thomas residents reminiscing about times past.

The property at 1 S. Fort Thomas Avenue, owned by Ken Warden, was most recently used by him as his headquarters for his real estate company. He painted the outside blue and yellow to match with his branding and in doing so, painted over the black and white lettering of Highland Branch Bank. It had also previously housed Blank's Pharmacy, among other businesses.

Warden left the private sector to step into a role in Frankfort under Governor Matt Bevin as the head of the Kentucky Real Estate Authority.

FTM file. 

The makeover of his building is not ushering in a new bank right now and there's no painting involved. Warden is just stripping the paint to reveal what used to be.

"I just wanted to go back to the front that was there prior to my office," he said. "You can not believe how many have contacted me since the work started wanting to know what was happening. A few have said they remember when it was a bank."


Warden said no new businesses have signed a lease there yet, but there has been plenty of interest.

With four decades of experience in the profession, Warden stepped into his new responsibilities in December after Matt Bevin acted to reorganize four state real estate boards, the Real Estate Commission, the Real Estate Appraisers Board, the Board of Auctioneers, and the Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors.

The system provides a single forum for real estate industry leaders to collaborate and develop recommendations for the business.