MORGAN STANLEY ACQUIRES STRUCTURE FROM HUNT MIDWEST
Hunt Midwest has sold its first completed building at KCI 29 Logistics Park–the Ace Hardware facility–to Morgan Stanley Investment Management.
The Ace Hardware retail supply center is a 1.5 million square foot, half mile long facility in what Hunt Midwest calls “Missouri’s premier, institutional-grade industrial park.”
Morgan Stanley noted the acquisition aligns with the firm’s strategy to invest in mission-critical real estate leased to industry-leading tenants to deliver strong long-term returns for investors.
“This acquisition reflects our continued conviction in high-quality net lease investments that combine strong tenant credit, mission-critical operations and institutional-quality real estate,” said David Gross, managing director at Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing. “The facility is a best-in-class, highly automated logistics asset strategically located in Kansas City, one of the country’s most important distribution markets.”
The sale represents the latest significant investment in KCI 29 Logistics Park from a globally recognized firm, further validating the site’s position as the premier destination in the central U.S. for large-scale industrial development.
“Our vision was to create a seamless real estate solution for the world’s leading companies to invest in KCI 29 Logistics Park, and Morgan Stanley’s purchase validates the long-term value we’ve created here for major companies, investors, the Kansas City region, and Missouri overall,” said Mike Bell, Hunt Midwest executive vice president. “This sale opens the door for other institutional-level investors and companies to capitalize on the momentum we’ve created at KCI 29 Logistics Park.”
The build-to-suit Ace Hardware facility opened in 2025 as a central hub to the company’s growing national distribution operations of more than 5,000 locally owned and operated retail locations. It is the company’s largest retail support center, and is the largest distribution center in Kansas City by building footprint. The project was honored with a 2026 Capstone Award by the Kansas City Business Journal.
KCI 29 Logistics Park also has attracted a Fortune 100 distribution operation, under construction now, and can support up to 20 million square feet of industrial facilities. Hunt Midwest and Prologis, a global leader in logistics real estate, partnered this spring to capitalize on the early successes at the park with plans to pursue built-to-suit needs for leading companies worldwide.
“Morgan Stanley’s investment underscores what we know: Kansas City is where global companies come to build for the future,” said Elli Houston, vice president of KC SmartPort, the industrial-focused initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC). “Our strategic location and exceptional industrial assets offer the scale, connectivity and confidence needed for long-term growth, with world-class assets like KCI 29 Logistics Park that exemplify the caliber of development driving Kansas City forward.”
KCI 29 Logistics Park is the region’s premier 3,300-acre shovel-ready location for large-scale users in the manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, and technology sectors. It is strategically located at the intersection of Interstates 29 and 435 adjacent to the Kansas City International Airport, providing immediate access to regional and national transportation networks that give companies the ability to reach 90% of the continental U.S. within two days or less. The site also features transmission-level utilities on site, 20-year tax certainty, and approved master planned district zoning for unparalleled speed-to-market.
“We’re excited to see continued growth and progress at KCI 29 Logistics Park, which results in jobs and opportunities for all,” said Jon Stephens, Port KC president and CEO.
For more information about KCI 29 Logistics Park and Hunt Midwest’s growing industrial portfolio, visit HuntMidwest.com.
