Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is converting a former commerce center and industrial park in Maple Shade, N.J., to self-storage. U-Haul Moving & Storage of Strawbridge Park officially opened at 121 Kings Highway in January. Acquired by the company last July, the 15.48-acre property consists of five brick buildings and 154,601 square feet of space. The buildings are on both sides of Kings Highway.

The facility currently offers moving and packing supplies, towing equipment, truck and trailer rentals, and U-Box portable-storage containers. Renovations are underway to add 30,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage by the end of summer, according to a company press release.

Formerly known as Kings Commerce Center, the property is within a half-mile of Strawbridge Lake Park and near other retail businesses.

"This U-Haul store will help the community by increasing customer convenience and reducing our carbon footprint, since we have repurposed a declining complex," said Paul Kelly, president of the U-Haul Co. of Southern New Jersey. "The Maple Shade Township governing body has been very cooperative and helpful to U-Haul in the process of moving forward. I believe this is a win-win-win for Maple Shade, its citizens and U-Haul."

The opening of the Maple Shade property was driven by U-Haul’s corporate sustainability initiatives, which support infill development to help local communities lower their carbon footprint, the release stated. 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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