Facility Spotlight: First & River Self Storage

The newest self-storage facility in Tucson, Ariz., is everything one would expect from a development/ management firm bearing the name Professional Self Storage Management Co., which claims more than 40 properties throughout the Southwest.

The entire site was built with customers in mind, begins Mel Holsinger, company president. It offers the complete range of moving and storage. We thought of everything. The charm of the facility begins with its name, First & River Self Storage, which identifies its location in a lovely scenic corridor of Tucson. With the help of a local professional design center, no amenities of décor were overlooked. We hired a very classy operation that really focuses on high-end designs, explains Holsinger. They did a great job.

The job entailed installation of granite countertops for the office, classic furnishings and fine cherry cabinets. Concrete floors, finished with an easy-to-mop, skid-proof coating, add a fancy, yet practical option. Soothing music is piped throughout the building, and subtle paint colors were chosen for the walls. We tried to design the facility to appeal to women, who represent 60 to 65 percent of the storage decision-makers in our market, Holsinger says.

Lighting was also made a top priority. In fact, hallway lights are set on motion sensors to promote security for customers as well as garner the ecological benefit of electrical/carbon emissions savings.

Overcoming Obstacles

The construction for First & River Self Storage began in March 2006. The project reached completion in only 13 months. Although the building process ran smoothly, thanks to local general contractor APN Builders, the preliminary approvals were a bit precarious. Zoning only allowed a two-story building due to height restrictions, but the original plansto maximize square footage were for three.

We ended up digging 16 feet down to create a 25,000-square-foot hole in the ground, explains Holsinger. The basement is home to a range of unit sizes, hiking the facilitys total square footage up to 53,745.

Added Benefits

These days, getting a stronghold in a competitive market often means site security and technology needs to be as sophisticated as possible. First & River meets and exceeds those requirements with complete camera coverage and video recording, as well as two big-screen monitors in the office. Each unit boasts individual door alarms. If theres a breach, the police are notified immediately, says Holsinger.

Customers will also surely appreciate the options to make payments any time, online or at the onsite kiosk. A free moving truck is on hand for new moveins, as are dollies and carts, which fit easily through the facilitys extra-wide hallways.

Marketing Madness

Just like the facility itself, First & Rivers marketing campaign is all-out classy. Holsinger admits his glossy, colorful fliers and brochures cost a fortune, but the impression sent to potential tenants makes it worthwhile. In less than two months, we were 20 percent full, so we were pleased that wed invested in quality marketing materials.

Once the brochures and fliers had been printed, two marketing representatives infiltrated the business community and began educating potential customers to the new site and its prolific features. The whole facility is air-conditioned, including 525 units and indoor staging area, which is great for business customers, adds Holsinger.

The Big Party

Champagne bottles popped and the ribbons were cut to a crowd of more than 150 people who gathered at First & River Self Storage in May. The invite list included all city officials, members of the chamber of commerce, local business clubs, and even community members whod been lured through remote radio programming, which broadcast the event over the Tucson airwaves and beyond.

Attendees were catered to with cocktails, hors doeuvres and even valet parking. Though it was undeniably an extravagant affair, the payoff fit the bill. We signed up six or seven units on the spot, says Holsinger.

In retrospect, Professional Self Storage wouldnt have done anything differently when developing this new oasis in the desert. The quality of workmanship is excellent, concludes Holsinger. First & River is by far the largest, nicest facility in the area. Youve got to see it to believe it.