Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. has acquired or converted four self-storage facilities in three states and a Canadian province. One of the projects was an acquisition that was renovated to meet U-Haul’s business model. The other three were conversions from alternative uses to self-storage.

U-Haul built a new showroom at the Affordable Mini Storage facility it acquired at 1500 Airport Road in Henderson, N.C., in September. Rebranded as U-Haul Moving & Storage of Hendersonville, the business includes 600 storage units, including 30 with climate control. Offerings include hitch installation and towing equipment, moving and packing supplies, propane sales, truck and trailer rental, and U-Box portable-storage containers.

"This is a great location on a cut-through road from downtown to the interstate," said Doug Weston, president of the U-Haul Co. of Western North Carolina. "It's surrounded by apple orchards with some of the best apples on the East Coast."

U-Haul is also converting three existing properties to a self-storage use, including a General Motors building in the South Walkerville community of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; a former grocery store in Akron, Ohio; and an abandoned tire-manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kan.

U-Haul Moving & Storage of South Walkerville at 1508 Walker Road officially opened in November. The 15.76-acre property includes 378,000 square feet of space. It currently offers hitch installation and towing equipment, moving and packing supplies, truck and trailer rental, and U-Box portable-storage containers. About 1,000 interior, climate-controlled storage units as well as 100,000 square feet of indoor vehicle parking will be available this fall.

"The store is in the heart of the city and benefits the community through the reuse of an existing property," said David Anstett, president of the U-Haul Co. of Western Ontario. "What's really amazing is how long this building has been a part of the community. My wife's father used to work at the GM plant. I'm so glad we are saving it."

U-Haul Moving & Storage of McAdams Park at 1000 E. 13th St. N. in Wichita, Kan., has been renting trucks and trailers for nearly a year, but the company officially took possession of the property in September. The facility currently offers hitch installation and towing equipment, moving and packing supplies, and U-Box portable-storage containers. Renovations are underway to add 600 interior, climate-controlled storage units this year. Propane sales will also soon be available.

The 1.93-acre property features a 100-year-old, two-story building containing 53,700 square feet. It originally served as a tire plant but has housed many businesses through the years, according to a press release. It was being used as a storage warehouse prior to the acquisition.

The facility is just off Interstate 135 at the 13th Street exit. It’s a few miles from Wichita State University and one mile north of the downtown area.

"Many of our customers have stated they needed a U-Haul store in this neighborhood. They want to see what we can do with this old building,” said Garrett Schaper, the property’s general manager.

U-Haul Moving & Storage at Tallmadge Avenue in Akron, Ohio, was formerly an Acmes Fresh Market's original warehouse and store. The property at 800 E. Tallmadge Ave. features a two-story brick building on 2.12 acres of land and includes 134,756 square feet of space.

"I'm excited about the opening of this store because I am literally getting to watch the location grow before my eyes," said Jon Hartman, the facility’s general manager. "We have new additions to the fleet, and customers are excited about the storage addition we are building."

U-Haul acquired the property in August 2014 and opened for business four months ago. It currently offers 105 interior, climate-controlled units, moving and packing supplies, truck and trailer rental, hitch installation and towing equipment, propane sales, and U-Box portable-storage containers. Construction is nearly complete on an additional 700 indoor storage units as well as 150 vehicle-storage spaces.

"We were able to take a historical building and make it into a new state-of-the-art storage facility for the community," said Alissa Nider, president of the U-Haul Co. of Akron. "We have had a presence in this area for more than 20 years, and we're just happy to add more services for the residents of Akron."

The conversion projects were driven by U-Haul’s corporate sustainability initiatives, which support infill development to help local communities lower their carbon footprint, according to the press releases. 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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