04-08-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
A legacy of expertise drives the creation of premier communities
Backed by decades of combined experience in real estate development, Jeremy Cole and Brent Etscorn of Green Street Partners have channeled their entrepreneurial acumen into a mutual appreciation of lakeside living. Through master-planned neighborhoods – Paradise Grove on Kentucky's Nolin Lake and Paradise View on Tennessee's Dale Hollow Lake – the pair are curating lakeside living with long-term value.
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Bringing Resort-Style Living to Kentucky and Tennessee
Cole and Etscorn have been friends since high school – attending St. Xavier High School and then the University of Kentucky together. Cole's experience includes IT management consulting, real estate investments, real estate development, and operating senior living communities across the southeastern United States. Etscorn led his family's auto service center, Etscorn & Sons, for nearly 25 years and has a successful track record in property investment, digital media, and community services.
Through their development of Paradise Grove and Paradise View, the team is bringing luxury and lifestyle appeal to two of the region's most popular destinations.
'If you go to the Ozarks and the lakes of Virginia, you see plenty of communities like our Paradise properties,' Cole said. 'We knew there was a gap in this market for Kentucky and Tennessee – and this was made even more clear during Covid – so we wanted to bring that resort experience here, just a short drive away.'
Though the partners' inspiration came from time spent on Kentucky's lakes, the concept took shape in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the classrooms of Harvard University. Paradise Grove was the subject of Cole's thesis for his master's degree in real estate development from Harvard's joint program with Harvard Business School and the Graduate School of Design, which he completed in 2022.
The location of Paradise Grove was strategically chosen for its access to the I-65 corridor from Louisville to Nashville as the cities adjacent to the highway are seeing substantial growth. This includes the addition of BlueOvalSK Battery Park, the historic $5.8 billion venture that's drawing 22,000 new residents and located just 40 minutes from the gated community.
'If you look at growth in a 20- or even 50-year pattern, with Bowling Green and Elizabethtown making drastic changes, there is no place I would rather be than on the I-65 corridor,' Cole affirmed.
Paradise View allows for a smaller, more pristine alternative to the more crowded lakes on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Future residents will have a front-row view of the world-famous Dale Hollow lookout that attracts nearly 3 million visitors each year.
Meaningful Getaways – Close to Home
Interest in lake homes spiked during the pandemic as families wanted to vacation but avoided highly populated areas. That demand has remained strong as more people prioritize flexibility and privacy over frequent travel and busy tourist spots.
'Instead of spending an hour in TSA, you can drive one hour to Nolin Lake and experience the amenities of a resort with significantly less hassle – no flight delays, no schedule demands, and a fraction of the cost,' Cole said.
Green Street's commitment to building these well-appointed vacation and residential properties goes beyond profits. Their mission is to share the natural beauty of Kentucky and Tennessee's lakes and allow for families to make priceless memories on the water.
Construction has begun on the Dale Hollow property and is expected to be completed in Spring 2026. Paradise Grove Nolin's amenities – including a community pool, pickleball courts, hiking trails, and more – will be completed this summer and the neighborhood has nearly sold out every lot in its Phase 1 development. Properties range from $400,000 to upwards of $1 million.
'My family has been in real estate for three generations, and we have missed out on several opportunities because we were not at the table,' Etscorn noted. 'I love creating opportunities, I love seeing people do well, and we are positioned to continue to unlock value for investors in this region.'
Strategy and Vision in an Uncertain Market
Many investors and developers are experiencing difficulties in the current real estate climate due to rising construction costs, regulatory delays, and tighter lending standards. Green Street is also an investor in a local self storage company, where they have two active projects in Lexington and Louisville. In both asset classes, they have outperformed expectations through strategic execution and a clear, long-term focus.
'By building single-family homes, build-to-rent, and short-term rentals, we're not facing as many of those challenges,' Etscorn said. 'Our demographic understands what an asset these properties are.'
With thoughtful planning and a deep connection to the landscape, Green Street Partners' communities are poised to become cornerstones of lakefront living in the region.
