Self-Storage Development and Zoning Activity: February 2019

Update 3/12/21 – The Chapel Hill Town Council voted 5-3 on Wednesday to approve the conditional zoning that will allow Stackhouse Properties to move forward with development of a three-story self-storage facility and gas station. The move effectively preserves the 73 residences that are part of the Tar Heel Mobile Home Park. Though residents and community groups opposed the self-storage facility in principle, they supported the rezoning as a means to avoid eviction. Stackhouse acquired the property in 2018. It proposed the mixed-use project as a way to keep the homes intact while also adding new revenue sources.

“We have to keep the people on the top of our minds,” councilmember Allen Buansi said prior to the vote. “I understand that this decision doesn’t line up with the vision that we have for this part of town. But also, we have real families—real lives—at stake.”

The 5-3 vote matched an earlier vote in February. The second vote was necessary because the initial approval didn’t reach a two-thirds majority. As part of the rezoning covenant, Stackhouse agreed to reduce the size of the self-storage facility by 10,000 square feet. It must also have a rent appraisal conducted by a third party every two years and report the results to the town. Rental rates within the mobile park must be less than 5 percent different from comparable parks in Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. Stackhouse also agreed to keep the park operable for the next 15 years.

8/28/20 – Hunt Midwest opened its new StorTropolis self-storage location in Blue Springs. The three-story facility at 3140 Northwest Jefferson St. comprises 138,000 square feet. Similar to the company’s three existing sites, the property offers climate-controlled units and enclosed parking spaces large enough to accommodate an RV. It’s managed by Storage Asset Management (SAM), a property-management and consulting firm. Founded in 2010 and based in York, Pa., SAM oversees more than 220 storage facilities operating under 60-plus brands.

2/10/20 – PWM Properties continued site work on its conversion of the former bowling alley on Stewart Street. Progress includes work on the lobby and installing units inside the building, according to partner Joe Pluim. Construction is scheduled to be complete by mid-March. The 110-unit facility will be operated by StorQuest Self Storage, the operating brand of the William Warren Group (WWG), a privately held real estate company. Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Monica, Calif., WWG acquires, develops and operates more than 165 self-storage facilities in 14 states.

10/1/19 – CBL Properties has begun converting the former Golfsmith store in Chattanooga, Tenn., to self-storage. Scheduled to open in March, Box Storage will comprise 645 climate-controlled units and be managed by Absolute Storage Management, a self-storage owner and property-management firm. The project is a joint venture between CBL and private real estate firm Hickory Capital Group. CBL has developed self-storage near malls in St. Louis and Cincinnati.

7/31/19 – The Corvallis Planning Commission last week voted to recommend approval for the Allied Storage project at the corner of Belvue Street and N.E. Walnut Boulevard. Planners took three separate votes to consider a change to the city’s comprehensive plan, altering zoning at the site from low-density residential to mixed-use employment, and to approve conceptual and detailed plans for the facility. Each passed with a 6-1 vote.

The recommendation applies only to the first phase of the project, which will cover 8.5 acres. The developer didn’t submit final plans for phase two. The zoning change would allow additional uses, including housing, office or retail space, according to the source.

The city council must still give final approval to the project because it includes a change to the comprehensive plan.

5/10/19 – The self-storage development proposals submitted by Baranof Holdings and REC Hopkinton LLC were rejected this week. In Richmond, the city council voted 4-0 against the Baranof project, though there was one abstention and two recusals. In Hopkinton, town voters denied REC’s zoning request “by a voice vote with a resounding ‘nay’ filling the hall,” according to a source.

The Richmond City Council ended Baranof’s bid after the SFNC appealed the planning commission’s special-permit approval. The SFNC twice voted down the project despite appearing to be favorable toward a community-benefits grant if the council approved the development. The neighborhood group was represented by a law firm during the appeal process.

The denial means Baranof will no longer acquire the Cutting Boulevard property. David Schoenthal, a local consultant representing Baranof, indicated the developer was “done with this project and Richmond,” following the council vote, a source reported.

In Hopkinton, the self-storage zoning proposal was one of several articles voted on this week during a town meeting. About 350 residents voted on Tuesday, with vocal opposition against allowing self-storage into the industrial district strong enough to negate a formal vote.

4/18/19 – The Sonora Planning Commission last week approved the use permit that will allow PWB Properties to convert the former Sonora Family Bowl to self-storage. In addition to transforming the 15,000-square-foot structure into about storage 100 units, the developer plans to use an adjacent vacant lot for gated access to the property and three parking spaces.

City officials favored the project as a way to preserve the building, which has been empty since 2010. “The existing building is a large space. This large size has led to difficulty in finding another end user,” staff wrote in its project analysis. “The indoor self-storage use is a good fit for the large space and will allow the preservation of the building.”

PWB expects to begin construction this summer. It acquired the bowling alley in December for $375,000.

The developer is also working on a self-storage proposal for East Sonora, near the Micro 7 industrial park.

3/12/18 – The Richmond Planning Commission approved Baranof Holdings’ self-storage project for Cutting Boulevard with a 4-0 vote. Two commissioners were absent, and one was recused from voting. Project conditions requested by the commission include gated parking, gateway signage for the Sante Fe neighborhood and an increase of commercial/retail space to run along S. 2nd Street. The SFNC also accepted the developer’s pledge to create an annual $5,000 community-benefits grant, according to the source.

2/26/19 – 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 more activity taking place in February 2019.

Real estate developer 1784 Capital Holdings LLC, which acquires, develops, constructs and owns self-storage facilities, has broken ground on a self-storage project in Scottsdale, Ariz., and acquired a development site in Hawthorne, Calif. Scottsdale Promenade Self Storage at 7550 E. Paradise Lane will comprise 101,305 net rentable square feet, with three stories above ground and one below. Built on 2.52 acres near new residential development and retail, the facility is expected to be complete during the first quarter of 2020.

In Hawthorne, 1784 acquired 1.31 acres at 3155 W. El Segundo Blvd. Hawthorne Self Storage is expected to comprise up to 120,510 square feet. It’s also being planned with three stories above ground and one below. The project is within the Greenline mixed-use development, an area the city has identified for housing, infrastructure, transportation and other improvements. It’s scheduled to be complete during the first quarter next year.

Baranof Holdings faces opposition to a self-storage project it’s proposed for 205 Cutting Blvd. in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Richmond, Calif. Though the 82,000-square-foot facility would include space for art studios and retail space, the Santa Fe Neighborhood Council (SFNC) would prefer a more “uplifting” project such as a coffee shop, grocery store or live-work loft. The project is also opposed by Daryl Henline, director of the nearby Bridge Storage and ArtSpace, who’s an SFNC member.

A recently reworked plan submitted by Baranof includes 4,870 square feet for art studios and up to 5,000 square feet of community space. The company has also offered to create an annual $5,000 community-benefits grant that would be administered by the SFNC. Among the developer’s arguments in favor of the self-storage plan is that the site is across from a Superfund site, where contaminants in the soil and ground water make other project uses prohibitive.

The Bentonville, Ark., Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for a CubeSmart self-storage facility last week. BOS Park intends to build a two-story building that will comprise 104,200 square feet. Planners approved the developer’s plans, along with a lot split and rezoning for nine acres north of Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard between Morningstar and Southwest Featherston Roads. The site was split into three lots, with the storage project slated for the middle 3.23-acre plot. The other two will remain vacant. Zoning was changed from a planned unit development to general commercial. The building design includes an exterior of brick, metal panels and stucco. The project includes a grass area with trees for the north side of the site.

GYS Development LLC intends to build Camelback Self Storage at 5025 N. 99th Ave. in Glendale, Ariz. The 45-foot-high, three-story facility would offer up to 800 climate-controlled and traditional units behind a storefront appearance. It would be built on 2.58 acres of a 9-acre site owned by Phoenix-based MGPC LLC. The project will require a change to the city’s planned area development to allow self-storage as a permitted use. It’s favored by the planning commission, though no timeline has been set for a review by the city council. GYS is a real estate development company focused on self-storage. It’s a division of Grow Your Storage LLC, a Texas-based property-management firm.

Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development Inc. intends to double its StorTropolis self-storage portfolio with two projects in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. One project will be near the Zona Rosa Town Center, a 500,000-square-foot mixed-use development in Kansas City, while the other is slated for the suburb of Blue Springs, Mo. Hunt opened its first two locations during the fourth quarter last year. The company specializes in commercial, industrial, multi-family, retail, residential and senior housing projects. It’s part of a diverse portfolio of entities owned by the Hunt Family, including the Kansas City Chiefs.

David Bernstein, president of Miami-based real estate firm Larkspur Properties LP, has purchased a former Walmart in Belleville, Ill., for $1.2 million with the intent to convert it to drive-through self-storage containing 650 to 700 units. The property on Carlyle Plaza Drive has been vacant since 2008. If approved by the city, the facility could open by the end of the year, Bernstein said.

Self-storage owner EZ Storage and Nolan Bros. of Texas Inc. received unanimous approval on Feb. 7 to convert the vacant Shop ‘n Save building in Kirkwood, Mo., to drive-through self-storage comprising 122,000 square feet. The Kirkwood, Mo., Planning and Zoning Commission had rejected the plan in January for the former grocery store at 10461 Manchester Road. The approval came after Nolan proposed a “Payment in Lieu of Taxes” (PILOT) program to the Kirkwood City Council. Under PILOT, the city will be guaranteed a minimum of $182,500 in tax receipts each year from storage facility and various other retail operations that’ll eventually occupy the 8.6-acre property.

A developer will take his plans to build a self-storage facility in Hopkinton, Mass., to town-meeting voters after the zoning-advisory committee rejected his proposal last year. Paul Mastroianni of REC Hopkinton LLC submitted a request in December to bring a zoning-bylaw amendment to allow self-storage by right in the industrial district on 10 acres of undeveloped land he owns on South Street. He’s now filed a citizen’s petition, which required 10 signatures from registered voters, to include the town-meeting warrant article. Town bylaws don’t allow self-storage in town by right or special permit, according to a source. If approved, the article would allow self-storage in any “Industrial A” district.

Simply Self Storage, which owns or manages facilities in the United States and Puerto Rico, has opened a new location at 4740 4th Army Drive in Frisco, Texas. The property has a mix of climate-controlled and drive-up units. It’ll target small-business and residential customers, according to Kyle Schmutzler, executive vice president.

Stackhouse Properties LLC, a property-investment firm based in Durham, N.C., is seeking zoning approval to build a mixed-use project in Chapel Hill, N.C., that’ll include a three-story self-storage facility and a gas station. The 13.9-acre property at 1200 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. houses a vacant Marathon gas station as well as the mobile-home park Tar Heel Mobile Court, which includes 73 families.

Dan Jewell, a representative for Stackhouse, presented the plans to the town council on Feb. 20 for feedback. The original plan submitted in November would’ve displaced up to 16 families, while a revised plan that reorganizes the property will keep all the residents in their homes for at least a decade, according to a source. Council members have asked the developer to add more details to its project application, including the existing infrastructure, future connections to the nearby bus- transit line and other businesses, and aesthetics of the storage building.

Real estate management and development company Tulfra Real Estate intends to add self-storage to a redevelopment project in West Caldwell, N.J. The facility will comprise 41,000 square feet in 760 units. The property also includes a 68,000-square-foot space that’ll be leased to Case-It, a manufacturer of binders and office supplies, for 15 years. Tulfra recently secured a $11.7 million in financing through two separate loans. Tulfra specializes in working with municipalities to transform underutilized or non-performing assets into projects in all asset classes including commercial, hotels, healthcare and residential.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is converting four buildings in California, Iowa and Massachusetts to self-storage. U-Haul Moving & Storage of Woodland opened a temporary showroom last summer in the former 64,808-square-foot Sam’s Club distribution center at 1600 Tide Court in Woodland, Calif. Once the 8.41-acre property is complete, it’ll offer 1,000 units.

U-Haul also purchased a former Kmart in Des Moines, Iowa, last month, with plans to convert it to self-storage. U-Haul Moving & Storage of East Side is operating out of temporary showroom at 2535 Hubbell Ave. while the 106,914-square-foot building is renovated. Once complete, the facility will offer 700 indoor storage units.

U-Haul is also redeveloping a five-story office building near the Framingham, Mass., Technology Park into a 633-unit self-storage. It has received pushback from the city about the project because officials wanted a higher-end, mixed-use development for the building at 15 Pleasant St. Connector. The planning board is expected to finish its review soon of the application from U-Haul parent company AMERCO Real Estate Co., which purchased the 6-acre site nearly a year ago for $4.4 million from New Jersey-based Normandy Real Estate Partners. U-Haul filed its plans for the building before the city changed its guidelines for new storage development. The 95,000-square-foot building has been vacant for six years.

The former Melville Shoe Co. building at 44 Hammond Road in Worcester, Mass., could also be transformed into a U-Haul facility. The city’s historical commission granted a one-year demolition-delay waiver for the 2-acre site, allowing AMERCO to repair the building’s exterior, repair windows and extend a loading dock. A mosaic depicting a worker fitting a shoe will be restored, according to Jeff Vain, a representative of AMERCO, which purchased the property last year for $3.9 million. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns more than 32 million square feet of storage space.

A proposal by Venture Storage Group LLC to build a three-story, $6.5 million self-storage facility in the South Peak development of Roanoke, County, Va., is facing opposition from planning-commission members concerned about the vision for the 3.1-acre site, which overlooks the cross point of U.S. Highway 220 and Virginia State Route 419. Plans include constructing a 105,000-square-foot facility along South Peak’s front retaining wall. Commissioners questioned whether storage was the right development for the vista and worried about the building’s size. The commission will hold a public hearing tonight to discuss the project and take a final vote on whether to grant the requested special-use permit.

2/15/19 – 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 more activity taking place in February 2019.

An 11-acre vacant property in Corvallis, Ore., that was once considered for the development of a homeless shelter will now become a self-storage facility. Property owner Challis Collman Grover LLC received zoning approval last week to build Allied Storage off Walnut Boulevard, according to a source. The first phase will include self-storage on 8 to 10 acres. Plans for the remaining land have yet to be decided. A new road that cuts through the property to connect Belvue Street with Jack London Street will also be constructed. Lyle Hutchens, president of Devco Engineering Inc., represented Challis during the Feb. 7 public hearing, which drew a handful of residents voicing concerns about the project.

Baranof Holdings received pushback from the North Bay Village, Fla., Planning and Zoning Board on its mixed-use proposal for 1.93 acres at 1850 Kennedy/79th St. Causeway. The developer intends to build an eight-story structure with 142,530 square feet of self-storage, 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and 82 parking spots. The building would be 98 feet tall, with the storage portion branded and managed by Extra Space Storage. The zoning board recommended against the project on Feb. 5 in part due to concerns about parking allotment for Grandview Palace, a 539-unit condominium complex that shares parking on the property. Andrew Aiken, managing partner at Baranof, indicated the storage facility would need only 18 of the 82 parking spaces. The developer plans to appeal the decision to the village commission on March 12.

Envirosweeps LLC, a contract-sweeping provider, received initial zoning approval to build a self-storage facility in Columbus, Ind. Plans for the 4.86 acres at 2850 N. State Road 9 also include outdoor vehicle storage. The planning commission has requested a buffer of 5-foot evergreen trees along the north property line, which is adjacent to a residential neighborhood. A second reading of the zoning request will be held on Feb. 19.

Real estate firm World Class Capital Group LLC, which operates the Great Value Storage brand, is developing a three-story self-storage facility with a basement at 960 and 1000 Main St. in Los Angeles. The 2.4-acre property is centrally located in the Chinatown neighborhood north of downtown. Once complete, it’ll comprise 188,600 rentable square feet in 2,036 climate-controlled units and 53 covered vehicle-parking spaces. The $49.6 million construction loan was negotiated by Talonvest Capital Inc., a boutique self-storage and commercial real estate advisor. The team included Kim Leslie Bishop, Jim Davies, Terra Hendrich and Tom Sherlock.

Pittsburgh, Pa.-based real estate developer Kossman Development Co. has proposed a mixed-use project to redevelop its Perry Shops retail property in Ross Township, Pa. The 11-acre site at 7910-7920 Perry Highway would house a 124-unit apartment complex, retail and self-storage. The retail component, expected to be a mix of a drug store, fitness center and drive-through restaurant, would be placed at the front of the property, with the 89,000-square-foot storage facility behind the drug store. The apartments would be toward the rear of the site. The developer has received approval on 16 of the 18 zoning variances it’s seeking, though the zoning commission isn’t enthusiastic about the self-storage component. The commission asked for additional time to review the site plan to assess potential impact on the neighborhood.

Norco Inc., a Boise, Idaho-based provider of medical supplies and industrial equipment, is seeking approval to build a mixed-use development in Meridian, Idaho, that’ll include two multi-story hotels, an office building and a self-storage facility. Called Eagle Commons, the development will be at the northeast intersection of Eagle and Overland Roads, south of another proposed development that’ll feature a credit union call center and a golf-and-entertainment business. The council will consider the Norco proposal on March 5.

The Gloversville, N.Y., Planning Board this week tabled a zoning request for a self-storage project proposed for 164 Harrison St. DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design PLLC presented the proposal on behalf of property owner Beth Potter in December. The site houses two buildings, one occupied by fastener supplier Fastenal and a vacant structure that would be converted to storage. Initially, approximately half of the 9,517-square-foot building was intended to be self-storage; however, recent updates to the plans show 66 units consuming the entire space. The changes were made on the suggestion of councilman-at-large and engineer Steven Smith, who proposed a solution to concerns about the building’s structural integrity. The city will likely re-examine the application once the property-ownership issue is settled.

Real estate developer PPI Enterprises has proposed a three-story self-storage facility for an 8-acre site in Windham, N.H., though the project is strongly opposed by residents. The Ledge Road site is a sore spot for the community after blasting during a controversial 2006 project by Meadowcraft Development damaged homes and water wells. The city shut down the project after a year. Project engineer Tom Burns told officials he’s consulted with Maine Drilling and Blasting Inc. on a solution. He also wants to use 10,000 cubic yards of gravel left behind from the previous project to build a berm between neighbors and the site. The planning board will discuss the project on March 6.

The Sonora, Calif., Planning Commission recommended the city change its zoning to allow self-storage in its commercial and general-commercial zoning districts as a conditional use. The move is seen as a precursor to approving a conversion of the former bowling alley at 19 S. Stewart St. by PWM Properties. The commission will formally address the conditional-use permit for the self-storage facility on March 11. The city council must hold two public hearings to address the rezoning proposal. The developer is comprised of local investors Lee Moyle, Joe Pluim, Brian Wahlbrink and Julie Yorston. Sonora Family Bowl has been vacant since 2010.

Styx Cos. has converted a former Food Lion grocery store it owns in Greenwood, S.C., into a self-storage facility that’ll be managed and branded by CubeSmart. The 47,000-square-foot building at 1508 Edgefield St., which has been vacant since 2007, offers 300 units. Styx spent $2.75 million on the project and received financial assistance through the state’s Abandoned Building Tax Credits for Redevelopment. Ryan Hyler, a partner with Styx, called repurposing the abandoned building “a great venture.”

U-Haul Moving & Storage at the Bedford Automile is converting a former Chevrolet dealership in Bedford, Ohio, into a self-storage and truck-rental facility. The property at 19000 Rockside Road is currently offering exterior storage, hitch installation, and truck and trailer sharing. The 109,634-square-foot building will eventually offer more than 800 storage units with 24-hour access to customers. Propane sales and towing equipment will also be available on the 12.5-acre lot.

2/8/19 – 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 more activity taking place in February 2019.

The Lincoln, R.I., Planning Board has given master-plan approval for a self-storage proposal by 678 GHW LLC. Though self-storage is an accepted use for the 5.68 acres at 678 George Washington Highway, new structures must be built with permanent foundations. The project is expected to include six storage buildings in addition to the former H&H Screw building, which sits at the front of the property and was previously identified as a contaminated site by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Remediation work was completed in August 2017.

Real estate developer Doug Dysert is building Jackson Self Storage on a 9.85-acre property at 2603 W. Michigan Ave. in Blackman Township, Mich. Dysert has already constructed the first two storage structures and is in the process of completing two additional buildings. The facility will eventually be part of a larger mixed-use project that could include a gas station, offices or strip mall along the street front. The site once housed the Bel-Air Drive-In, which served the community for 30 years, closing in 1985. Underground contaminants prevented previous redevelopment. Though trichloroethylene was found at the eastern end of the property, no soil mitigation was required for self-storage construction.

Maple Grove, Minn., officials are considering a concept plan from JMAR Storage, which has proposed a self-storage project for a vacant property along Bass Lake Road. The 200-unit facility would be built behind a Holiday gas station, which owns the parcel. Though the project is only in the concept stage, some members of the community have voiced concerns about impact from lighting. Applicant John DeVries indicated he’s held three meetings with residents to alleviate concerns.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Madison Capital Group intends to build a Go Store It self-storage facility in West Ashley, S.C., near Charleston. The 85,451-square-foot, 587-unit project would be at the intersection of Bees Ferry Road and West Ashley Circle, between a Walmart and a planned apartment complex. The three-story structure would be screened from Bees Ferry Road by wetlands and a buffer of trees. Madison specializes in the acquisition, development and management of self-storage assets.

The Pleasant Prairie, Wis., Village Board unanimously approved a master conceptual plan from real estate developer Prairie Holdings LLC, which intends to build a 127,000-square-foot self-storage facility at 9201 Wilmot Road. The property will be branded and managed by self-storage real estate investment trust Extra Space Storage. The site is one of three neighboring parcels owned by Prairie Holdings. A 3.7-acre lot would potentially house 14,112-square-foot structure, while a 7.7-acre lot could eventually house a 43,500-square-foot building. Though both were included in the plan, no use has been identified for those parcels.

Real estate developer Principal Properties LLC is set to build Principal RV and Self Storage in the Scotton Landing area of Battle Ground, Wash. The property on the southwest corner of S.W. Scotton Way and State Route 503 will comprise 65,175 square feet in 646 units. It’ll comprise six buildings and a covered loading area. The facility will specialize in boat/RV storage, offering automatic garage-door openers, indoor heating and LED lighting. Founded in 2002, Principal Properties specializes in commercial real estate development, investment and management. It offers consulting services for mixed-use, multi-family and retail properties.

Pro-Guard Self Storage has expanded its facility at 20554 Little Valley Rd NE in Poulsbo, Wash. A new building adds 32,525 square feet and 321 units to the property. Other additions include a covered area for loading and unloading, keypad access and video cameras. The new units are heated, with the upper levels accessed via a freight elevator. The facility is managed by Everett, Wash.-based West Coast Self-Storage Group, which operates a portfolio of 55 managed properties California, Oregon and Washington.

U-Haul acquired a former Sears store in Fairbanks, Alaska, in January that it intends to turn into a self-storage and truck-rental facility. The property at 3115 Airport Way will house a temporary showroom while conversion of the 90,890-square-foot building is underway. U-Haul Moving & Storage of South Fairbanks will offer truck and trailer sharing, towing equipment, moving supplies, hitch installation, and U-Box portable storage. When complete, it’ll comprise about 700 units as well as a heated area for loading and unloading.

2/4/19 – 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 an overview of recent activity.

The Upper Darby, Pa., Zoning Board has approved a self-storage plan submitted by 41 S. Union Ave. LLC. Company representative William Santora Sr. told officials the three-story facility at 20 S. Union Ave. would comprise about 100 units. Driveway access will be directly across Austin and Nyack Avenues in the borough of Lansdowne, which will minimize impact on the area, according to councilmember Jack Bierling.

Baranof Holdings LLC, a Dallas-based self-storage developer, has received site-plan approval for its project at 324 Neppheran Ave. in Yonkers, N.Y. The seven-story facility will comprise 93,100 rentable square feet in 1,174 climate-controlled units. Construction is expected to begin before the end of March. It’s one of four projects the company has under development that received equity investment from a private fund managed by Crow Holdings Capital Real Estate, a Dallas-based asset manager with interests in self-storage. Baranof also recently purchased a development site in Hayward, Calif., and entered a ground lease on another site in Honolulu. The company develops, builds and acquires self-storage properties nationwide. It operates 11 facilities in California, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Blue Mountain Mini Storage and Go Self Storage have submitted separate land-use applications to build self-storage in Garfield County, Colo., though both proposals could face obstacles. Since the projects would be within three miles of Carbondale, Colo., that city’s planning and zoning officials act as a referring entity to the county; however, the Garfield County Commission will make the final decision.

Blue Mountain wants to build on about 6 acres at the intersection of County Road 100 and Highway 82, but the land has already been platted for a residential subdivision. The developer would like to replat a portion for self-storage, but town officials are hesitant of recommending the move because housing in the area is scarce.

Go Self Storage has proposed a larger facility on 2.7 acres at 12744 Highway 82. The property would comprise approximately 85,000 square feet in multiple buildings, with the main, three-story structure encompassing about 75,000 square feet. During a recent meeting, town planners were concerned about the impact of lighting and the size of the facility on the immediate area.

CBL Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in shopping centers, has proposed converting a former Golfsmith store to self-storage in Chattanooga, Tenn. The three-story facility would comprise 94,000 square feet at 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. and would be managed by CubeSmart, a self-storage REIT and third-party management firm. The project would fit in with CBL’s larger plan to redevelop parts of the adjacent Hamilton Place mall and is similar to self-storage installations the company has done near its malls in Cincinnati and St. Louis. The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission will review a rezoning application for the project later this month. CBL has 67 malls nationwide.

Real estate development firm Criterion Group LLC has proposed a nine-story self-storage facility for 31-08 Northern Blvd. in Long Island City, N.Y. The building would stand 115 feet tall and comprise about 255,000 square feet. Criterion acquired the site in 2015 for $40 million. Observers say self-storage may be a suitable use for the site because Long Island City has experienced a spike in residential development and will soon be home to an Amazon regional facility.

North American Self Storage Group (NASSG), an acquisition and development platform based in Costa Mesa, Calif., has completed the conversion of a former warehouse in Peabody, Mass., to self-storage. The four-story, climate-controlled structure comprises 116,376 square feet. The property will be managed by CubeSmart. ARCO/Murray Design Build served as general contractor. NASSG specializes in the acquisition, renovation and conversion of commercial and industrial properties into self-storage across the United States.

U.K. entrepreneurs Mike Wilson and Andy Wood are building their fourth SureStore self-storage facility. The property in Bury, England, will comprise 42,000 square feet, including drive-up units as well as 9,000 square feet that will be leased to an unidentified commercial business. The business is expected to open in April, with the property scheduled to be fully functional by summer. SureStore launched last year behind investment backing from Seneca Partners Ltd. The company intends to have 10 operating facilities in its portfolio across the Northwest and Midlands during the next 12 months.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. has received initial approval from the Wickenburg, Ariz., Planning and Zoning Commission for a self-storage facility and truck-rental center. The project will be constructed on 16 acres at the northwest corner of Scenic Loop Road and U.S. Route 93. The site plan includes several buildings designed with Western facades. The property will include a primary, two-story structure, 11 self-storage buildings and four vehicle-storage canopies. It’s expected to open in 2020, depending on outstanding approvals. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns more than 32 million square feet of storage space nationwide.

Commercial real estate developer United Properties faces opposition to its plans to build a two-story self-storage facility at 1552 Quarry Road in the Central Park Commons area of Eagan, Minn. The property would comprise 100,850 square feet on 1.7 acres near retail, a hotel and multi-family developments. During a recent meeting, members of the advisory planning commission indicated the proposal exceeds building-coverage standards and doesn’t meet the city’s green-space requirements. Rick McKelvey, vice president of development at United, argued self-storage would cause less traffic and require less parking than another use. The developer has marketed the site for two years to attract other uses without success. Several residents also voiced opposition to the plan, with some urging the city to buy the property and dedicate it for park space.

New Sources:
Indy Week, Chapel Hill Is Voting to Rezone the 1200 Block of MLK Boulevard This Week. Residents Are Asking The Town Council to Say Yes.
Indy Week, Chapel Hill Town Council Votes to Approve 1200 MLK Boulevard Rezoning

Previous Sources:
REjournals, Hunt Midwest Opens StorTropolis Self-Storage Facility in Missouri
The Union Democrat, Work on the StorQuest Indoor Storage Facility in Downtown Sonora Continues
Democrat-Herald, Corvallis Storage Facility Gets Tentative OK
Times Free Press, Work Starts on Hamilton Place Self-Storage Project
The Chattanoogan, CBL Properties Starts Construction on New Self-Storage Facility at Hamilton Place
The MetroWest Daily News, Hopkinton Voters Reject Self-Storage Business, OK $150K for Dog Park
The Richmond Standard, Richmond Council to Consider Appeal of Sante Fe Mini-Storage Project
The Richmond Standard, Richmond Council Halts Mini-Storage Project at 205 Cutting Blvd.
MyMotherLode.com, Sonora Planning Commission to Review Self Storage Proposal
The Union Democrat, Owners of Former Downtown Sonora Bowling Alley Unveil Plans for Self-Storage Business
The Union Democrat, Self Storage at Former Sonora Bowling Alley Gains Approval
The Richmond Standard, Mini Storage/Artist Studios Approved for 205 Cutting Blvd.
Guru Focus, New U-Haul Facility to Address Self-Storage Demand in Woodland
The News & Observer, Revised Chapel Hill Project Could Save Some of Town’s Last Mobile Homes
The MetroWest Daily News, Hopkinton Developer to Bring Self-Storage Facility Plan to Voters
Webster-Kirkwood Times, EZ Storage Proposal Gets Thumbs Up
The MetroWest Daily News, Plans for U-Haul Storage, Rental Site in Framingham Move Forward
Belleville News-Democrat, It’s Been Vacant for 11 Years. Now This Developer Has Plans for Belleville’s Former Walmart
PR Newswire, Moving in Des Moines: U-Haul Reveals Plans for Former Kmart
WB Journal, Historical Commission OKs U-Haul Facility at Vacant Factory
The Roanoke Times,   Roanoke County Supervisors to Consider Permit for 3-Story Self-Storage Warehouse on South Peak
Arizona Builder’s Exchange, Camelback Self Storage to Bring Approx. 800 Units to GDLE
Kansas City Business Journal, Hunt Midwest Plans Two More StorTropolis Self-Storage Locations
Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Climate-Controlled Storage Planned in Bentonville
Patch, Self-Storage Facility Coming to Passaic Avenue in West Caldwell
PR Newswire, Simply Self Storage Announces New Class a Storage Facility in Frisco, Texas
The Richmond Standard, Is There Space for Another Mini Storage Biz in the Santa Fe Neighborhood?
Global Newswire, Talonvest Secures $29.6M Construction Loan for Downtown Los Angeles Development
Idaho Statesman, Two Hotels, Offices, Stores May Join Golf-Recreation Business in This Meridian Area
Index Journal, CubeSmart Site Opening at Former Greenwood Food Lion Supermarket
Pittsburgh Business Times, Kossman Seeks Approval for Mixed-Use Redevelopment of Perry Highway Site
PR Newswire, U-Haul at the Bedford Automile to Offer 840 Self-Storage Rooms at Former Chevy Dealership
South Florida Business Journal, Developer Proposes Self-Storage Complex Near Waterfront Condo in Miami-Dade
The Corvallis Advocate, Proposed Homeless Shelter Site to Become Self-Storage
The Eagle-Tribune, Windham Neighbors Wary of New Blasting at Development Site
The Leader-Herald, More Problems Arise for Storage Facility Proposal
The Republic, Council Approves Rezoning Application for Storage Facility
The Union Democrat, Plans to Convert Bowling Alley into Mini-Storage Move Forward
Trib Live, Ross Tables Vote on Proposed Perry Highway Project Amid Concerns About Impact on Neighborhood
Kenosha News, Board Approves Conceptual Plans for Self-Storage Facility
MLive, Bel-Air Drive-In Site Redeveloped for Storage Units
PR Newswire, Self-Storage in Fairbanks: U-Haul to Reuse Old Sears for New Facility
Press and News, Maple Grove Approves Storage Unit Facility Concept
The Post and Courier, New Daniel Island Church, West Ashley Storage Units and Mural on Charleston Board’s Agenda
The Reflector, First Recreational Vehicle Storage Facility to Open in Battle Ground This Summer
The Valley Breeze, Coming Storage Facility Part of Construction Boom on Route 116
Daily Times, Upper Darby Zoners Give Thumbs Down to Plea for Addition to Pilgrim Gardens Home
HometownSource.com, Self-storage Facility in Central Park Commons?
The Business Desk, Latest Self-Storage Scheme to Benefit Bury Economy
The Real Deal, Shibber Khan Is Switching Gears at His LIC Site With Plans for One of the City’s Largest Self-Storage Facilities
The Sopris Sun, Big Box Not the Storage Solution for Carbondale, P&Z Tells GarCo
The Wickenburg Sun, P&Z Approves U-Haul Facility
Times Free Press, New Self-Storage Building Coming to Hamilton Place Mall Area