September 24, 2020

14 Min Read
Self-Storage Development and Zoning Activity: June 2020

Update 9/24/20 – The demolition of several buildings has begun to make way for the new Beyond Self Storage in Baltimore. The structures removed include a one-story industrial building with loading docks, a two-story industrial building, and four rowhomes. The storage facility will be bounded by Worcester Street to the north, Denver Street to the east, Ridgely Street to the west, and an existing commercial use property to the south, according to an application for redevelopment waiver to the Baltimore City Department of Works.

6/18/20 – 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 June 2020.

Ken and Tom Paulik, owners of 24HR Comfort Services, received approval to expand their facility in Milton, Wis. Plans include seven new buildings containing a total of 300 units on the 5-arcre property at 310 Sunnyside Drive. The project will be built in phases, with the first 46-unit structure expected to be complete by Sept. 1. The Pauliks operate their development firm, KT Enterprises, and HVAC company, also called 24HR Comfort Services, at the property.

Arizona Storage Inns (ASI) opened a new location in Phoenix. The property at 34707 N. 7th St. comprises 469 units and 109 boat/RV spaces. The site is ASI’s 16th in the area. The locally owned company also operates three U-Stor Self-Storage facilities in Greater Phoenix.

Beyond Self Storage, which operates 27 facilities in 11 states, opened a new location in Tempe, Ariz. The facility at 8303 S. Priest Drive offers 820 climate-controlled units and 26 vehicle-parking spaces. Its exterior showcases a contemporary metal sculpture by Daniel Moore, a local artist and owner of The Oxide Studio. Called “Chaos Restored,” the piece stretches across the building, which is 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide.

Beyond Self Storage also intends to build a new location on 1.14 acres in Baltimore near Horseshoe Casino. The facility at 1541 Ridgely St. would comprise 129,000 square feet in 950 units. Parent company NorthPoint Development filed for a redevelopment waiver related to stormwater management at the site last month. The project is being handled under affiliate BSS South Baltimore LLC. Beyond plans to expand into three new states this year and hopes to reach 80 locations nationwide by 2025.

Brookwood Properties LLC, which operates 52 self-storage facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, opened a new location in Denham Springs, La. The four-story building at 100 Rushing Road comprises 130,000 square feet in 1,100 units. It’ll be managed by Life Storage and branded under its name. Baton Rouge, La.-based Rosehill Construction LLC was the general contractor.

Defender Self Storage opened in Lorain, Ohio. The facility at 1115 Meister Road is within the Lorain Plaza Shopping Center and offers more than 36,000 square feet in 347 indoor units. It’s owned by Pittsburgh-based Kossman Development Co., which also operates another facility by the same name in Penn Hills, Pa. Both sites are managed by Storage Asset Management, a self-storage property management and consulting company.

U.K. self-storage operator Lok'nStore Group PLC is pursuing several developments that will add more than 223,000 square feet to its operating portfolio. It has two 60,000-square-foot projects on tap in Stevenage and Warrington, England, as well as a 50,000-square-foot development planned for Wolverhampton, England. No completion dates have been announced. A 53,000-square-foot project in Salford, England is expected to open in January. The operator has 12 sites in its project pipeline. Founded in 1995, it operates 34 self-storage facilities in Southern England.

Shurgard Self Storage Europe SARL, the European affiliate of U.S.-based REIT Public Storage Inc., received a permit to build in the Lichtenberg borough of Berlin. The new self-storage facility will comprise about 6,000 square meters in approximately 1,000 units. The project is expected to be complete in 2021. The location will be Shurgard's sixth in Berlin. The company operates 240 self-storage facilities comprising 1.2 million net rentable square meters in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Storage of America, which operates 21 facilities in five states, converted a former Kmart store in Fremont, Ohio. The facility at 1825 N. Ohio 19 contains 866 climate-controlled units. The operator purchased the building in 2019 for $1.7 million after Kmart shuttered the store in 2016.

Synergy and Mills Development opened Stealth Storage in Dayton, Ohio. The $4 million facility at 60 Harbert Drive includes five buildings containing 210 units. A second phase, slated to be complete in the next six to 18 months, will add another four structures. Once complete, the project will comprise 64,000 square feet in 455 units. Synergy designed, developed and constructed the facility. It’ll retain ownership but has contracted a third party to oversee daily operation. Based in Beavercreek, Ohio, the company develops healthcare, office, restaurants and retail space. This is its first foray into self-storage, though it plans to build two to four more facilities in the area and is seeking development opportunities in other locations.

The Winter Garden, Fla., City Commission approved two ordinances on June 11 that will allow the property owner at 1577 and 894 Beard Road to build a self-storage facility on the 6-acre lot. The ordinances changed the future land-use designation and zoning from residential to commercial. The project would comprise 114,641 square feet split between a main three-story building and five single-story structures. It would also include canopy-covered vehicle storage. Renderings related to the application indicate the facility may be managed by REIT Extra Space Storage Inc. and branded under its name.

An unidentified developer is facing opposition to rezone land that houses a funeral home on South Eagle Road in Havertown, Pa. Several hundred people have signed a petition to block the project, which would demolish the existing structure and put a three-story self-storage facility in its place. Haverford Township Commissioners Steve D’Emilio and Mario Oliva oppose the rezoning, calling storage the wrong fit for the site. A public hearing to discuss the proposal was held on June 11.

6/4/20 – 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 June 2020.

AAA Storage World is building a new location on a 5-acre site in Etowah, N.C. The facility near the intersection of McKinney Road and U.S. Highway 64 W. will comprise 80,000 square feet and include outdoor spaces for boat/RV storage. It’ll be built in two phases, with the first expected to be complete in September. AAA is a family-owned business led by Dennis Dorn. The company has two facilities in Asheville and Hendersonville, N.C., and one in Spartanburg, S.C.

Advantage Self Storage, which operates 18 locations in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York, is building a new 73,750-rentable-square-foot facility in Arvada, Colo. The operator acquired the 5 acres at 15240 Coal Creek Road for $900,000 from a private investor in 2017. Great Western Bank provided the $7.7 million loan. The mortgage matures in 2025, and loan terms include a variable interest rate and three years of interest-only payments. Financing was arranged by real estate adviser Talonvest Capital. The brokerage team included principals Jim Davies, Tom Sherlock and Eric Snyder, and colleagues David DiRienzo, Lauren Maehler and Erich Pryor. Based in Colorado, Advantage also provides business and property-management services nationwide.

All Climate Storage Center, which operates a facility in Lewes, Del., is building a second location in Milford, Del. Expected to be complete this fall, the facility at 22692 Argos Corner Road will offer climate-controlled, drive-up and vehicle storage. All Climate’s sister company, Lessard Builders, is the contractor.

Apple Self Storage opened a new location in a converted Zellers retail space in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Located in the Northwood Park Shopping Plaza at 110 Redwood Ave. W., the facility comprises 30,000 square feet and includes an interior loading bay. The store had been vacant for several years. Apple opened its first facility in 1975 and today operates 34 locations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Redmond, Wash.-based developer CPSG Self Storage Facility XI LLC opened Federal Way Supreme Self Storage in Federal Way, Wash. The facility at 35200 Pacific Highway S. comprises 107,485 rentable square feet in 758 units and features 110 boat/RV spaces. It was designed by Stephen Bourne of Seattle-based Site + Plan + Mix LLC. The site will be managed by West Coast Self-Storage Group (WCSSG), an acquisition, development and property-management company headquartered in Everett, Wash. WCSSG’s portfolio of managed and owned properties includes 50 sites in Washington, eight in Oregon and eight in California.

Commercial developer Hand Properties Inc. opened a new self-storage property in Savannah, Ga. The facility at 2201 Beaumont Drive comprises 60,595 square feet in 576 climate-controlled and drive-up units. It’ll be managed by self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) Life Storage Inc. and branded under its name. Founded in 1985, Hand Properties develops commercial and retail projects nationwide. Life Storage operates more than 850 storage facilities in 29 states and Ontario.

Dan Marshall received a conditional-use permit on May 19 to build a self-storage facility on land he owns in Hastings, Neb. The planning commission unanimously approved the project for 1211 and 1215 E. South St., noting it meets all the necessary impact criteria, according to Lisa Parnell-Rowe, the city’s development services director. Trent Schelkopf of Quality Builders LLC represented Marshall in the application process.

Mustard Street Management LLC intends to convert a former Sears store in Memphis, Tenn., to self-storage. The 124,000-square-foot building is in the Hickory Ridge Mall at 6075 Winchester Road. An affiliate of Mustard Street recently acquired the structure for $1.1 million. It had been vacant since 2013. Based in Florida, Mustard Street specializes in self-storage conversions.

Nicklies Development intends to build a self-storage facility as part of the Jeffersonville Commons retail site in Jeffersonville, Ind. The $6.3 million project on E. 10th Street will comprise more than 110,000 rentable square feet. The facility will include 46,000 square feet of climate-controlled space and 30,000 square feet of drive-up units. It’ll also have more than 30,000 square feet of boat/RV storage, 12,000 of which will be covered. Founded in 1988 and based in Louisville, Ky., Nicklies specializes in the planning and development of industrial, office, residential and retail projects.

The Morehead City, N.C., Planning Board recommended approval for a mixed-use project that would bring 60 new apartments and a Pinnacle Storage facility to the Vinings at Wildwood apartment complex. Developer Sailfish Wildwood LLC received rezoning approvals in May to split a 13.52-acre property at 5476 Highway 70 into a 3.93-acre lot that will house new apartments and a 9.59-acre site for the self-storage facility. The project would comprise the second phase of development for the Vinings complex. The first phase was completed 10 years ago. The city council is expected to review the project for final approval on June 12.

SK Property Holdings II LLC received zoning approval on May 19 to build a self-storage facility on 2.64 acres of a 24-acre park and ride lot under construction in Henry County, Ga. The storage business will be on lot 10 on Jonesboro Road. The facility will be required to install brick or stone fencing at least eight feet tall.

SmarterSpace Storage, which develops, owns and operates self-storage in Northeast Florida, plans to open a new location in Gainesville, Fla., this month. The three-story facility at 6589 S.W. Archer Road will comprise 98,450 square feet in 748 climate-controlled units, 47 drive-up units, and 21 uncovered vehicle-storage spaces. It'll also feature a 117.6 kW solar-panel system that’s projected to offset up to 45 percent of the building’s overall utility costs. Jordan Architects Inc. provided the architectural services, and ARCO/Murray Design Build was the contractor. The facility will be managed by Life Storage.

StorageMart, which operates 225 properties in three countries, opened a new location in Fredericksburg, Va., The four-story facility at 9640 Jefferson Davis Highway sits on 6 acres and offers 549 climate-controlled units. StorageMart is a privately owned, family-operated storage company led by the Burnam family, who’ve been in the storage industry for four generations.

Storage Deluxe, a self-storage real estate investment firm operating under the shell company 750 Merrick Road LLC, is looking to convert a former Honda dealership on West Merrick Road in Hempstead, N.Y. The company is requesting a 10-year, payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deal, as well as sales and mortgage-recording tax exemptions from the city. The 140,000-square-foot, $25 million storage facility would cater to commercial entities, such as construction contractors and firms that deal in large volumes of physical documentation, according to Jonathan Orr, an acquisitions and development associate for Storage Deluxe.

The William Warren Group (WWG), a privately held real estate company that operates the StorQuest Self Storage brand, broke ground on a new location in Cape Coral, Fla. The property at 1975 S.W. Pine Island Road is approved for a 100,000-square-foot facility. The site has been considered for self-storage several times. The last planned storage development on the property was by Rocker Lockers, but the group backed out.

WWG also opened its first StorQuest location in Santa Maria, Calif. Built on 3.6 acres, the facility at 1400 W. Betteravia St. comprises 105,000 rentable square feet. The company began development work on the $10.5 million project last year. Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Monica, Calif., WWG acquires, develops and operates more than 165 self-storage facilities in 14 states.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc., which operates more than 1,500 self-storage facilities across North America, opened the first phase of a newly converted building in Dayton, Ohio. The company acquired the site at 360 S. Main St. in 2017 and spent three years refurbishing the building, which dates to the early 1900s. It had been vacant since 2010. The location opened with 350 interior units. A second phase will add 250 additional spaces.

U-Haul also opened a self-storage location in Memphis, Tenn., in a converted Kmart store. The facility at 3201 Austin Peay Highway comprises more than 700 units. The company spent a year transforming the former retail space. Established in 1945, U-Haul operates more than 60 million square feet of storage space in North America.

The Vallejo, Calif., Planning Commission approved a proposal for a new facility on 1.43 acres at an infill site bounded by Interstate 80. The project at 384 Fairgrounds Drive will include two large storage buildings comprising totaling 104,000 square feet in 1,117 units as well as a 2,360-square-foot facility office.

New Sources:
Baltimore Business Journal, 950-Unit Self-Storage Facility Planned Near Horseshoe Casino
CBS Philadelphia, ‘It Just Doesn’t Fit’: Petitions To Block Tearing Down Funeral Home For Self-Storage Project In Havertown Gaining Steam
Construction Enquirer, Lok’nStore Tenders Trio of Landmark Storage Projects
Dayton Business Journal, Prominent Local Developer Ventures into Self Storage, Opens New Facility in Beavercreek
Fremont News-Messenger, Former Kmart Transformed into 866-Unit Indoor Storage Facility
Milton Courier, KT Enterprises Expands Mini Storage Business
Orange Observer, Winter Garden City Commission OKs Beard Road Storage Facility
REBusiness Online, Brookwood Properties to Open 1,100-Unit Self-Storage Facility Near Baton Rouge in June
The Foothills Focus, New Storage Facility Fills Niche in the Area
SouthBmore.com, Demolition Begins in Preparation for a 950-Unit ‘Beyond Self Storage’ Facility in Carroll-Camden

Previous Sources:
Hastings Tribune, Self Storage on East South Street Gets Ok From Planning Commission
Time-Herald, Commission OKs New Self-Storage Facility in Vallejo
Moving Henry Forward, BOC Approves Jonesboro Road Self-Storage
PR Newswire, StorageMart Unveils Brand New Self Storage Facility in Fredericksburg, Va.
Commercial Property Executive, Denver Storage Project Receives Construction Financing
LI Herald, Town IDA Mulls Tax Breaks for West Merrick Road Self-Storage Project
Milford Live, New Storage Facility Planned for Argo’s Corner
Carteret County News-Times, MHC Planners Recommend Preliminary Plat for Multi-Family Development, Self-Storage
Commercial Property Executive, Central Coast Self Storage Property Opens Doors
Hendersonville Lightning, Ask Matt ... About $19M Armored Truck Haul Stashed in Mountain Home in the '90s
Memphis Business Journal, Florida Firm Buys East End of Hickory Ridge Mall
Murfreesboro Post, Now Open: U-Haul Facility in Memphis Boasts 700-Plus Storage Rooms
News-Press, In the Know: Ross Dress For Less potential tenant for Page Field Commons
News and Tribune, Nicklies Development Building New Storage Facility in Jeffersonville
Patch.com, New Self Storage Facility Opens in Federal Way, Washington
PR Newswire, Now Open: U-Haul Storage of Downtown Dayton Offers 350 Rooms
Yahoo Finance, StorQuest Opens Modern Self Storage Facility In Santa Maria, CA

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