From Underutilized to Fully Leased Industrial Warehouse in Tuscaloosa
Right Space Commercial transformed an underutilized warehouse at 1502 18th Street in Tuscaloosa, AL into a move-in ready facility with showroom, office, and yard space. Within just 94 days of marketing, the property was leased to a global electrical distributor at $6/SF NNN, proving how fast an aging asset can be repositioned into a competitive, functional space.
Highlights:
Industrial
14,005 SF
Lease at $6/SF NNN
Signed in 94 days
Deal Details
This industrial property had been left vacant after the previous owner, a regional HVAC and roofing supplier, closed its Tuscaloosa operations. The building had suffered from deferred maintenance and was in need of substantial upgrades. Right Space Commercial purchased the property in mid-2023, invested in improvements, and brought it to market just three months later.
By January 2024, a lease was executed with a leading international electrical distribution company. The 14,005 SF building, offered at a competitive $6/SF NNN, provided the tenant with the right mix of showroom, office, warehouse, and yard space. Importantly, the tenant was able to move in and begin operations within one week of signing, minimizing downtime for their business.
Property Details
1502 18th Street is a single-tenant industrial warehouse situated on just under an acre in Tuscaloosa. The property combines showroom and office space with functional warehouse capacity—an offering that is hard to find in this submarket.
Key features include:
14,005 SF across warehouse and office
Pipe yard/laydown space for material handling
1 dock door and 2 drive-in doors for flexible loading
Recently updated parking and truck circulation
Central access to downtown Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama
These features checked multiple boxes for the tenant: distribution efficiency, showroom presence, and room to grow their inventory.
Strategy & Positioning (How We Leased It Fast)
Right Space Commercial applied its “Find it, Fix it, Fill it” model to take 1502 18th Street from a neglected, vacant warehouse to a fully leased industrial property in less than six months.
Find it: The property had been left behind after the previous owner closed its Tuscaloosa location. The former HVAC and roofing supplier had multiple sites statewide but chose to exit this market, leaving the building in rough shape with leaks, outdated build-out, and deferred maintenance. Because we specialize in repositioning underutilized assets, a local broker brought the opportunity directly to us knowing we could handle a “beat-up” warehouse and move fast on a deal.
Fix it: Immediately after closing in June 2023, we launched a full-scale rehab:
Structural & exterior: New roof installed on half the building, fresh paint, and insulation replacement to address long-standing leaks and weathering.
Warehouse reconfiguration: Demoed old low-ceiling warehouse build-outs, opening up the floor plate into a clear-span layout suitable for modern distribution.
Systems upgrades: New HVAC, electrical, and LED lighting across the entire space for efficiency and safety.
Office/showroom renovation: Installed LVP flooring, new fixtures, lighting, and fresh finishes to create a clean, customer-facing area.
Site work: Completed drainage and grading improvements and added a handicap-accessible entrance to meet code and usability standards.
Fill it: By mid-September 2023—just three months after acquisition—the property was on the market. Within 94 days, we had finalized a lease with a global electrical distributor that had outgrown its previous Tuscaloosa site. The tenant needed more warehouse space, better parking, a pipe yard, and dock access—all features that are hard to find in a single building in this market. Because our in-house construction team delivered the improvements quickly and cost-effectively, we were able to offer a competitive lease rate of $6/SF NNN, positioning the property attractively compared to other options.
This combination of proactive improvements, speed to market, and operational fit is what allowed us to compress the leasing cycle and deliver a win-win result: a stabilized industrial asset and a tenant with the right space to grow.
Location Overview
Tuscaloosa’s industrial market benefits from its proximity to the University of Alabama, a strong contractor base, and access to I-20/59 for regional distribution. 1502 18th Street is especially well-positioned for businesses that need both visibility and logistical convenience.
For the tenant, the location meant closer access to key customers, better parking, and improved accessibility for contractors and delivery trucks. With a dedicated pipe yard and modernized dock access, the site supports both day-to-day counter sales and broader distribution needs.
Before/After
Before Photos
After Photos
Tenant Spotlight
The tenant, a global electrical distributor, noted that their branch needed to expand quickly to handle shipping, receiving, and over-the-counter sales. Their previous location lacked parking, warehouse space, and a pipe yard, which constrained their growth.
“Right Space has worked with us since we got here and has tried to make it the best building we can have.”
– Branch Representative
FAQ
How fast was it leased?
The lease was executed in 94 days, with move-in within one week.
What improvements were made?
A new roof, electrical, HVAC, LED lighting, showroom and office upgrades, and drainage work.
What makes this property unique?
It’s rare in Tuscaloosa to find an industrial space that offers showroom, office, warehouse, yard, and dock access in one location.
Who was involved?
Right Space Commercial handled acquisition, renovations, and leasing entirely in-house.
Need to move fast into the right industrial space?
✔ We identify underutilized properties and unlock their full potential.
✔ Our in-house construction team executes cost-effective renovations.
✔ We provide creative deal structuring to remove obstacles and create seamless transitions.
