Self-Storage Development and Zoning Activity: December 2023

Update 12/20/23 – The global self-storage development pipeline continues to be extremely dynamic. Inside Self-Storage regularly covers new projects being planned and approved as well as zoning and other municipal issues. Following is additional activity taking place in December 2023.

Andrew Porter Ltd., which operates Porterstore Self Storage in Chorley, England, opened a second location in Adlington, a civil parish in Lancashire, England. The facility in the Adlington Central Business Park offers 45,000 square feet in 344 indoor units and 60 portable-storage containers. Founded in 1973 to provide moving services, Andrew Porter also operates Aport, a laboratory-relocation firm.

DealPoint Merrill is seeking zoning permission to convert a former Walmart in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to a mixed-use project that’ll include retail and self-storage. Plans for the vacant property at 2515 Ellsworth Road include 131,600 square feet of self-storage and 18,400 square feet of retail. A section of the parking lot will be replaced with landscaping, a walking path and benches. The township planning commission will consider the proposal in early January. DealPoint Merrill is a subsidiary of The Merrill Group of Cos., a privately held real estate development and property-management firm that has been in business since 1985.

Diamond Point Development LLC (DPD), in partnership with Castle Hill Investors LLC, opened a self-storage facility in Springfield, Massachusetts. It’ll be branded and operated real estate investment trust (REIT) Extra Space Storage Inc. The property at 1021 Boston Road offers 72,000 rentable square feet in 700 climate-controlled and drive-up units. Castle Hill is a New York City-based real estate investment, operating and development firm specializing in the self-storage, manufactured housing and multi-family sectors.

DPD is also developing a self-storage facility in Auburn, Maine, in partnership with The Ardent Cos., a privately held real estate firm focused on diversified investment strategies. Plans for 179 Turner St. include a three-story building comprising 75,000 rentable square feet in 750 climate-controlled units. Expected to open in March 2025, the project is being constructed on three parcels along the Androscoggin River. DPD is a real estate investment, development and asset-management company focused on commercial properties.

General Land Co. LLC is seeking permission to build a mixed-use project in Henrico, Virginia, that’ll include retail space and self-storage. Plans for the vacant property at the intersection of Mountain and Woodman Roads include a three-story self-storage building and 11,000 square feet of retail space for four tenants. After some opposition from community members, the planning board voted to defer the discussion to Jan. 23 to allow the developer time to address their concerns.

Nor Am Investments LLC opened the first phase of South Richland Storage in Richland, Washington. The facility at 2325 Storehouse Ave. comprises 37,687 in 298 units. Phase two will add vehicle-storage spaces. The property will be managed by Targa Real Estate Services Inc. Game Inc. served as the general contractor.

Rowe Group received approval to build a six-story, $33 million self-storage facility in Perth, Australia. It’ll be branded and managed by National Storage, which operates 230 locations in the country and New Zealand. Plans for the property on Pier Street include the demolition of an existing structure and the construction of 1,600 units and three commercial spaces for rent. Rowe provides project management, town planning and urban design.

Shurgard Self Storage Ltd., the European affiliate of U.S.-based real estate investment trust Public Storage Inc., opened a new location in Chiswick, England. The multi-story building at 210 Power Road comprises 69,965 in 1,140 units. Shurgard operates 276 self-storage facilities comprising 1.4 million net rentable square meters in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

VanWest Partners, which operates the ClearHome Self Storage brand, opened a new location on 6 acres in Longmont, Colorado. The facility at 10958 County Road 5 comprises 81,000 rentable square feet in 700 units and 46 vehicle-storage spaces. It was designed by VFLA Architecture and built by DCB Construction, with Aperio Civil Engineering providing engineering services. VanWest is a real estate investment firm specializing in self-storage acquisitions, development and management.

The William Warren Group (WWG), a privately held real estate company that operates the StorQuest Self Storage brand, received approval to build a facility in Gilroy, California. Plans for the 5-acre parcel at the intersection of Camino Arroyo and Gilman Roads include nine buildings comprising 57,671 square feet. It’ll also offer 41 vehicle-storage spaces and feature two murals, each one facing the main streets. Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Monica, California, WWG acquires, develops and operates more than 200 self-storage facilities nationwide.

12/13/23 – The global self-storage development pipeline continues to be extremely dynamic. Inside Self-Storage regularly covers new projects being planned and approved as well as zoning and other municipal issues. Following is activity taking place in December 2023.

1st Self Storage received planning permission to pursue a new development on 2 acres in King’s Lynn, England. The facility off Edward Benefer Way is expected to comprise 48 full-size storage containers, 16 half-size containers, 16 quarter-size units and two utility units. The King’s Lynn Civic Society objected to the project, but officials determined it will be an “effective re-use of a brownfield site.” 1st Self Storage also operates a facility in Wisbech, England.

U.K. self-storage operator Big Yellow Group PLC received planning approval to develop a 58,000-square-foot facility in Epsom, England. Big Yellow operates 109 locations in the United Kingdom under the Big Yellow Self Storage and Armadillo brand names, with most concentrated in Greater London and Southeast England.

A joint venture between global investment firm Blackstone Group Inc. and Asia-based Storefriendly Self Storage Group intends to convert a 17-story industrial building in the New Territories area of Hong Kong to self-storage. The companies purchased the 140,000-square-foot (floor area) Hale Weal Industrial Building at 22-28 Tai Chung Road for HK$560 million. The partnership has pursued similar projects since 2019. Headquartered in New York, Blackstone invests across alternative asset classes on behalf of pension funds and other institutions. Its investments are in Asia, Europe and the United States. Founded in 2002, Storefriendly also operates self-storage facilities in Macau, Singapore and Taiwan.

Chander Properties Ltd. intends to convert a warehouse on Nelson Street in Brandford, England, to a coffee shop and self-storage facility. The property is near New College Bradford. A decision on the application is expected next year.

Compass Self Storage LLC, a member of the Amsdell family of companies, opened a new location in Acworth, Florida. The facility at 848 Seven Hills Connector comprises 70,000 net rentable square feet. Headquartered in Cleveland, Compass operates more than 100 facilities in 15 states.

Coppertop Storage opened in Poulsbo, Washington. The facility at 23018 Ryen Drive N.W. comprises six self-storage buildings containing 430 units, plus outdoor vehicle-storage spaces. The company also operates Bainbridge Island Storage in Bainbridge, Washington.

Delaware Self Storage is building a new facility on 10 acres in the Laurel Junction Flea Market complex in Laurel, Delaware. The company operates seven locations in the state and one in Pennsylvania.

Go Store It Self Storage, which operates 90 facilities in multiple states, converted the former Big Cypress Marketplace in Naples, Florida, to self-storage. The building at 220 Basik Drive comprises 107,194 square feet in 503 units. General contractor Liberty Solutions was the project developer.

Go Store It has also broken ground on a new development in Franklin, Tennessee. Expected to open next fall, the facility at 2406 Goose Creek Bypass will comprise 109,000 square feet in 1,000 climate-controlled units. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Go Store It is an affiliate of Madison Capital Group, which specializes in the acquisition, development and management of self-storage assets throughout the United States.

Joule Capital Ventures converted the former Stage Stores Inc. building in Jacksonville, Texas, to self-storage. Pro-Storage at 1300 E. Rusk St. comprises 91,000 square feet in 449 units. A commercial tenant, Concentrix, occupies 34,000 square feet on the first floor. Joule is also developing a satellite facility 1.5 miles away by converting a 78,000-square-foot existing building into a mixed-use space offering retail or office space alongside self-storage. Headquartered in Houston, Joule is a developer, general contractor and operator of self-storage and commercial warehouses.

Karbon Self Storage is building a facility on the vacant site of the former Cottage Linen factory in Watford, England. The project at 3 Rhodes Way received conditional approval in April for 5,465 square meters of floor space. The linen factory was torn down after it was destroyed by fire in 2018.

McNab Grove Inc. is developing a mixed-use project in Pompano Beach, Florida, that’ll include restaurants, retail and self-storage. The five-story McNab & Federal Plaza at 950 E. McNab Road will offer 8,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor, with the remaining reserved for McNab Self Storage. Real estate development firm Diversified Cos. is building the project, which is expected to be complete early next year. McNab Grove’s principal is Soma Kasam, who also owns Deccan Spice and Pompano Discount Liquor.

Menard Inc., which operates the Menards home-improvement retail chain and self-storage facilities in the Midwest, received planning permission to develop self-storage next to its store at 1465 Menard Drive in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Plans include 291 units and 85 vehicle-storage spaces. The project still needs approval from the city council.

A partnership between NitNeil Partners and Seamless Capital is converting an existing structure in Austin, Texas, to self-storage. Plans for the 1.5-acre property at 853 Airport Blvd. include 83,000 net rentable square feet in 923 units. Expected to be complete in late 2024, the facility will be managed and branded by industry real estate investment trust (REIT) Life Storage Inc. Based in Atlanta, NitNeil focuses on self-storage acquisitions and development across the South. Seamless Capital is an Austin-based investment and real estate firm.

Premier Storage Investors broke ground on a new self-storage development in Seattle. The four-story project at 1115 N.W. 46th St. will comprise 100,000 square feet. It was designed by Seattle-based Jackson | Main Architecture. Once complete, it’ll be managed and branded by REIT Extra Space Storage Inc. Founded in 2013, Tennessee-based Premier is a privately held self-storage acquisition, asset-management and development company.

Spacious Storage intends to expand its self-storage facility at 948 Ellis St. in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, replacing an existing boat-storage structure with a five-story building. It’s asked for variances to match the building height and forego additional vehicle and bicycle parking on site. The city council is expected to review the application next year.

Storage of Mt. Laurel LLC received planning-board permission to build a three-story self-storage facility in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Plans for the 3.3-acre site at 3018 Route 38 include 151,008 square feet in 1,083 units. Storage of Mt. Laurel is owned by Hiren Patel, Neal Patel and Sanjay Patel.

StorageMart, which operates more than 280 self-storage facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, is converting a former hosiery factory in Brighton, England. Expected to be complete next spring, the Wellington Road property will comprise more than 65,000 square feet of self-storage in about 1,100 units. Built in 1957, the building was initially hailed by local press as a “Glass Palace of Industry,” but has since been used as a scrapyard and sat empty for decades. Founded in 1999 and based in Columbia, Missouri, StorageMart has a portfolio of more than 24 million square feet.

Justin and Eileen Sweet received a special use permit from the planning commission to build a self-storage facility in Coldwater, Michigan. Plans for the 1.7-acre site at 695 W. Chicago include six structures. The Sweets operate an equipment-rental business from an existing building on the property, which they purchased last year.

Trojan Storage, which operates 43 locations primarily along the West Coast, intends to build a mixed-use project on about 4 acres in North Hollywood, California, that will include an apartment complex and self-storage. The development at 7528 N. Bellaire Ave. will include a pair of three-story storage buildings comprising 89,000 and 132,000 square feet as well as a two-story apartment structure, with the first floor dedicated to resident parking.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is developing a self-storage facility in Princeton, Texas. Plans for the 8-acre site along U.S. Route 380 call for six buildings comprising 168,400 square feet. They include a four-story, 130,000-square-foot structure, a 30,000-square-foot warehouse, and 8,400 square feet of drive-up storage. Dallas-based MYCON General Contractors Inc. is the developer of the project, which is slated to be complete in June.

U-Haul is also developing a self-storage project on a 5.2-acre lot it acquired last year in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Expected to open next year, the facility at 7087 Bear Road will offer 990 units. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages more than 82 million square feet of storage space nationwide.

VanWest Partners, a Denver-based investment firm that operates the ClearHome Self Storage brand, broke ground on a new location in the city. The five-story facility at 2425 S. Colorado Blvd. will comprise more than 93,000 square feet. It’s being built on the site of a former office building, which was demolished. Galloway & Co. Inc. is the architect, with Waner Construction Co. Inc. serving as general contractor. The project is expected to be complete by March 31, 2025. Construction financing was secured via Wintrust Financial. VanWest specializes in residential and commercial real estate acquisition, management and sales.

New Sources:
Perth Now, JDAP Approves $33 Million Six-Story Storage Facility on Pier Street
Michigan Live, Developer Proposes New Life for Former Ypsilanti-Area Walmart Supercenter
Gilroy Dispatch, Storage Facility Approved on Gilman Road
PR Newswire, Premier Self Storage Facility Opens in Longmont, CO: ClearHome Self Storage - Longmont
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, South Richland Storage
Henrico Citizen, Henrico Self-Storage Facility Proposals Bring Public Opposition
The Business Desk, Self-Storage Business Grows With New Adlington Opening

Previous Sources:
70 and 73, Mount Laurel Planning Board Approves 1,083-Unit Self-Storage Facility on Route 38 at Union Mill Road
BisNow, Joule Capital Ventures Opens New Texas Self-Storage Facility, Acquires Single-Tenant Building in Jacksonville, Texas
Castanet, Ellis Street Storage Facility Looking to Expand Its Operation
Daily Journal of Commerce, Coppertop Storage Complex opens in Poulsbo
Daily Journal of Commerce, Ground Broken for Ballard Self-Storage
DL Online, Menards Looks to Build 291 Enclosed Storage Units in Detroit Lakes
Eastern Daily Press, Go-Ahead for New 1st Self Storage Park in King's Lynn
Global Newswire, Compass Self Storage Announces the Opening of State-of-the-Art Storage Center in Acworth, Georgia
Mingtiandi, Storefriendly-Blackstone JV Boosts Self-Storage Portfolio With $72M Hong Kong Buy
Morning Star Publications, Town of Laurel Eyes Development Both Inside and Outside Community Center
Morningstar, In Brief: Big Yellow Gets Planning Consent for Epsom Storage Centre
My Ballard, Demolition Begins for New Self-Storage Location Near Ballard Fred Meyer
MY PG Now, Nearly 1000 Self-Storage Lockers Nearing Completion in Prince George
New Pelican, Self Storage Building Will Include Retail, Restaurant
PR Newswire, StorageMart Brings New Life to Historic Building in Brighton
PR Newswire, VanWest Partners Announces Self Storage Development Project in Denver, CO
REBusiness Online, NitNeil, Seamless Capital to Develop 923-Unit Self-Storage Facility in East Austin
REBusiness Online, U-Haul to Open 168,400 SF Self-Storage Facility in Princeton, Texas
Telegraph & Argus, New Coffee Shop Could Open on Nelson Street, Bradford
The Daily Reporter, Planning Commission Approves Storage Units Next to Rotary Park
The Real Deal, North Hollywood Project Would Combine Apartments With Self-Storage
Watford Observer, Watford: Plans for Storage to Replace Burnt Linen Factory