Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. has converted an abandoned dairy plant in Sioux Falls, S.D., into a self-storage facility. U-Haul Moving & Storage of Sioux Falls at 201 S. West Ave. opened in November. The 66,331-square-foot facility is situated on just over 3 acres and includes 542 climate-controlled units. The property has an additional 10,000 square feet of space for U-Box-portable storage containers.

Built in 1931 by Terrace Park Dairy, the plant had been vacant for 10 years. The company merged with Land O' Lakes Dairy in 1969.                     

"This new facility offers convenience, as we are located near downtown and easily accessible from Interstate 29,” said Shawn Odden, president of the U-Haul Co. of South Dakota. "Prior to U-Haul opening this facility, we only had 67 self-storage units at our location on West 11th Street. With this new facility, we're offering all the high-tech self-storage features customers have been asking for."

The opening of the Sioux Falls property was driven by U-Haul’s corporate sustainability initiatives, which support infill development to help local communities lower their carbon footprint, according to a company press release. U-Haul’s adaptive reuse of existing structures eliminates the amount of energy and resources required for new-construction materials and helps local cities diminish their unwanted inventory of unused buildings, U-Haul officials said.

Established in 1945, U-Haul has more than 44 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,200 owned facilities throughout North America.

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