As the self-storage industry permeates our communities, it receives increasing attention from mainstream media outletsand not always favorably. As industry professionals, we should be aware of how self-storage is presented to the public. Media Watchdog is devoted to policing and summarizing general news coverage.

Storage Fire a $50,000 Loss
FOX 31 Denver, 1.4.07 

A single unit at Lock Ur Own Storage in Aurora, Colo., went up in smoke destroying $50,000 of personal treasures and memories. The fire was within Aurora boundaries, and Aurora and Denver fire departments worked to confine and extinguish it. No injuries were reported. Aurora arson investigators are investigating the fires cause and origin.

Units Flooded In Haverhill 
CBS4, 1.21.07 

Cold weather is to blame for dozens of flooded self-storage units at A-Plus Storage Haverhill, Mass., and many renters are upset that their possessions have been ruined. A frozen sprinkler pipe burst on the facilitys seventh floor letting water into the units below. The buildings owner says its an unfortunate accident, but hes not responsible for the damaged goods. The owner says tenants were advised to get renters insurance but many didnt.

Kmart to be Renovated Into Storage 
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1.8.07 

A St. Louis, Mo., developer wants to renovate a vacant Kmart building in Bellefontaine, Mo., and turn it into a 100,000-square-foot storage business. The aldermanic board passed the first reading of a measure that would give Hahs Real Estate Group a conditionaluse permit to renovate the store. It is hoped building the self-storage facility will lead to retail development on the 12-acre site.

U-Haul Purchases Landmark Nursery 
The Herald, 1.9.07 

Lee & Sons Nursery on N.C. 96 in Four Oaks, N.C., a fixture on the outskirts of town for nearly three decades, has been sold to AMERCO Real Estate Co. of Arizona. AMERCO, a holding company for U-Haul, purchased the 29.5 acres for $2.5 million. The nursery owner said AMERCO had bought the land for reinvestment purposes but has leased it back to him on a year-to-year basis.

Coloradoans Embrace Mobile Storage Alternative 
The Denver Post, 1.12.07 

Whether moving or adjusting to life changes, Coloradoans looking at self-storage see portable lockers as a viable option that serves their needs. The latest iteration of the self-storage industry is giving traditional moving and storage companies significant competition. Sturdy steel, or wood and aluminum containers with between 280 and 1,024 cubic feet of storage space are delivered by truck to a home or business. Small-sized units will hold the contents of one or two rooms, while the biggest ones can handle four rooms of furniture. After the boxes are loaded, they are hauled to a climate-controlled warehouse or to the renters new home or business.

Storage Awards Scholarships 
Honolulu Advertiser, 1.18.07 

Hawaii Self Storage awarded nine college scholarships to qualified Oahu public high school students. The $1,000 scholarships are renewable annually for up to $4,000 toward college education. Students must be accepted into or enrolled in a degree program at an accredited two- or four-year college or university and plan to enroll with a minimum of 12 credits per semester. To renew the scholarship, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 a year.

County Wants Storage for Park 
Penn Hills Progress, 1.17.07 

Allegheny County, Pa., officials who want to create a riverfront park hope they can convince Atlas Self Storage to sell its property along the Allegheny River. County council approved pursuing the riverfront park, and county officials are moving ahead with reviewing the Penn Hills property and seven others along Pittsburghs rivers for the park.