February 3, 2023

20 Min Read
Self-Storage Development and Zoning Activity: June 2022

Update 2/3/23 – A plan by Patriot Holdings, which operates the All-Purpose Storage brand, to convert a former Kmart in Augusta, Maine, was rejected by the city. In a 3-to-5 vote, councilmembers declined to send the proposal back to the planning board for a zoning recommendation.

In addition to purchasing the Kmart building, Patriot has offered to buy the storefronts next to it and renovate them for potential commercial tenants. The developer is also willing to convert the parking lot into a greenspace and install a covered bus stop. Company founder Tim Wilkins said Patriot won’t purchase the site if the zoning is rejected. Despite these enticements, city officials said the project doesn’t fit with their expectations for the property.

8/2/22 – W.C. Sawyer, owner of Sawco Self Storage, received zoning approval to build a second location in Isle of Wight, Virginia. The July 21 vote was unanimous, and the project received support from Sam Cratch, who owns land nearby. The property was rezoned in 2009 after another developer proposed new retail and office space for the location. Self-storage was prohibited as part of the rezoning at the time. The Isle of Wight Planning Commission approved the project in June but voiced concerns about market saturation. Though there are seven self-storage facilities within a five-mile radius of the proposed site, only one has unit availability, according to Amy Ring, the county’s director of community development.

7/26/22 – The Augusta, Maine, City Council rejected the zoning request by Patriot Holdings to convert a former Kmart to self-storage after members declared the project to be a poor fit for the area during a July 21 meeting. Though Western Avenue includes other commercial uses that have been there a long while, the site in question is surrounded by residential properties. Council members said they and local residents would prefer a development that returns the street to “a more walkable future.”

Patriot was represented in the meeting by Brandon Mitchell, associate broker for Malone Commercial Brokers, who stated the opposing argument. “Every business under the sun is on that strip, and this is why we feel this plaza right there—this class-A facility—would work well with this retail location. We’re seeing these types of facilities [self-storage] now being built throughout the country; and honestly, these old shopping centers that can’t be full … this is the trend, nationally. This location is great for a commercial use like this,” Mitchell said.

“The history in Augusta with Western Avenue is … we all hate it with a passion, so you’re up against that,” said councilor Heather Pouliot. “It was done before we had zoning in the city, and we’ve been making a concerted effort to go back to having a more beautiful Western Avenue, especially in this area. I just don’t think [the self-storage proposal] fits in the area.”

7/15/22 – With a 5-1 vote, The Whitefish, Montana, City Council approved a conditional-use permit that’ll allow Rain Dancer LLC to develop its self-storage facility on U.S. Highway 93. One building will be constructed along the north property line, another on the parcel’s west side, and the final two in the center. Access to the property will be via an existing road that leads to other businesses in the area.

6/23/22 – 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 May 2022.

1784 Capital Holdings LLC is developing a facility through affiliate Raintree & Pima Self Storage Partners LLC. Situated on 2.25 acres in Scottsdale, Arizona, the property near the intersection of Raintree Drive and Pima Road will comprise 81,435 square feet in 944 units. Designed by RKAA Architects Inc., it’ll be managed and branded by real estate investment trust (REIT) Life Storage Inc. Construction is expected to be complete in September, with TLW Construction serving as general contractor. A $20 million construction loan was secured through Thorofare Capital Inc.

Advantage Properties LLC and K-Land Corp. received a land-use variant to build a three-story Extra Space Storage facility in Howell, New Jersey. The 2.61-acre site is on the corner of Sunnyside Road and U.S. Route 9. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space owns or operates more than 2,096 self-storage properties nationwide and in Puerto Rico.

Carefree Covered RV Storage opened in Chandler, Arizona. The 31-acre property offers more than 550,000 square feet of storage in 1,224 enclosed, covered or uncovered vehicle-storage spaces. The company invested more than $5.5 million in developing the site since acquiring it in November 2020. Work was completed by Cave’s Canopies and Steel, EAPC Architects Engineers, Erie & Associates Inc., Ganem Construction LLC and Lucent Electric Inc. Carefree is a division of Business Property Trust LLC, a real estate investment firm. Founded in 1999, it also operates the Bargain Storage brand.

Insite Property Group, the parent company of SecureSpace Self Storage, opened a new facility in the Rancho Penasquitos community in San Diego. The property at the intersection of California Highway 56 and Interstate 15 comprises 109,725 rentable square feet. It includes more than 100 boat/RV-storage spaces as well as an RV wash and dump station. Based in Torrance, California, InSite has more than 50 self-storage facilities operating or under construction.

Josh Sullivan is seeking zoning approval to build True Storage on a vacant parcel that borders East Windsor and Enfield, Connecticut. The Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the request for 1706 King St., while the East Windsor commission was expected to discuss the request at its June 14 meeting. Plans for the building include less than 100,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage.

Matt Langer intends to build a hotel and self-storage facility adjacent to his Langer’s Entertainment Center in Sherwood, Oregon. The self-storage component would comprise a three-story, 110,000-square-foot building over two lots. It would be to the north of the 100-room hotel, which will connect to the amusement venue via a skybridge. Opened in 2019, the 54,000-square-foot entertainment center offers an arcade, bowling, laser tag, a ropes course, a rock wall and other activities. The planning commission is expected to review the land-use application on June 28.

The Whitefish, Montana, Planning Board recommended approval for a conditional-use permit that would allow Rain Dancer LLC to develop a 122-unit self-storage facility at 6394 U.S. Highway 93. The 1-acre property would include three two-story buildings, one single-story structure and 57 vehicle-storage spaces. The parcel is in a secondary business district, which requires the permit. The city council is expected to review the application on July 5. Rain Dancer is an affiliate of Falcon Storage, which operates a facility in Florence, Montana.

The Ramsey Family started construction on a 1,000-unit self-storage facility on 7.2 acres in Amsterdam, New York. The first phase of the project, which is near the intersection of Route 30 and Maple Avenue Extension, will offer 250 units. The family also intends to develop a 6,500-square-foot retail space next door. The land was recently acquired along with two Best Value Storage facilities. The family operates seven A-Metro self-storage facilities in new York, and also owns Liedkie Moving & Storage and Metro Movers.

Rhino Storage Group completed construction of a new location in Morgantown, West Virginia. Rhino Self Storage Center at 5800 Nancy D. Drive is in the “Path of Progress” district, within the Gateway Development master-planned community. Based in Racine, Ohio, Rhino operates 19 facilities in Ohio and West Virginia. It has projects under development in Charleston and Hurricane, West Virginia as well as South Bloomfield, Ohio.

Construction on a 35,000-square-foot addition is underway at Stor-All in Gardnerville, Nevada. Expected to open this fall, the expansion at 1456 Industrial Way will include 28,000 square feet of traditional self-storage units and 8,000 square feet of covered vehicle storage. Stor-All was founded in 1971 by Robert and Twyila Whear.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is building a multi-story facility on nearly 5 acres in Cartersville, Georgia. Slated to be complete in May 2024, the project at 1411 Joe Frank Harris Parkway S.E. will comprise more than 90,000 square feet in 700 units.

U-Haul is also developing a self-storage location on 10.76 acres it recently acquired in Augusta, Georgia. The facility at 1070 Claussen Road will offer more than 700 units through a four-story climate-controlled building and other drive-up structures. It’ll also include a separate warehouse for portable-storage containers. The project is expected to be complete by June 2024.

In addition, U-Haul intends to build a 1,212-unit, four-story facility in Mundelein, Illinois, on the west side of Route 45. Though there’s been some pushback from officials regarding the height of the 33,800-square-foot building, U-Haul has argued it’s necessary due to the irregular shape of the 5-acre parcel.

U-Haul also plans to convert a former Kmart in Vernal, Utah, to self-storage. The 93,357-square-foot building at 1153 W. Highway 40 would offer more than 700 units. The company recently acquired the 7.29-acre property and is operating truck rentals and other services from a temporary showroom. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages more than 75.1 million square feet of storage space in North America.

An unnamed developer received initial zoning approval to build a four-story self-storage facility in Pico Rivera, California. The half-acre parcel at 6605 Rosemead Blvd. has been vacant since 1980. The council approved the first reading of the zoning change in April and was expected to give final approval at its June 14 meeting.

Another unnamed developer is seeking zoning approval to tear down the former Daiko Japanese Restaurant & Jerry-San’s Sushi Bar in West Haven, Connecticut, and build self-storage in its place. Plans for the building on Derby Avenue include 122,000 square feet of storage space. The developer is working with city officials to reconfigure some of the entrances to the site to ease traffic congestion, according to city planning director Chris Soto. The property sold for $2.44 million in May.

6/10/22 –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 2022.

U.K. self-storage operator Big Yellow Group PLC received planning approval to develop a new facility in Staines, England. The project includes a 65,400-square-foot self-storage center, including 5,400 square feet of external-access units and 98,500 square feet of warehousing and logistical space. The company operates 105 locations under the Big Yellow Self Storage and Armadillo brand names, with most concentrated in Greater London and Southeast England.

South Carolina-based CE Development Management LLC received approval to build a storage facility on the former Berry Fresh Farms in Brick Township, New Jersey. Plans for the 5-acre site at 151 Brick Blvd. include a three-story building comprising 147,312 square feet. Expected to be complete in a year, it’ll be managed by self-storage real estate investment trust Extra Space Storage and branded under its name.

In a joint venture, DYO Investments LLC, MacArthur Holdings LLC and Live Oak Capital Partners LLC completed construction on Flex Storage in Canton, Georgia. Built on 9.2 acres, the facility at 7222 Cumming Highway comprises 90,000 square feet. The architect for the project was Max Design Group, with Travis Pruitt & Associates providing civil-engineering services. JM Williams was general contractor, and Renasant Bank provided financing. Flex Storage is a division of DYO, which develops and operates self-storage, retail and industrial real estate throughout the Southeast. Based in Atlanta, Live Oak is a developer and real estate investment firm. MacArthur is a real estate business based in New York City.

First Midwest Group intends to convert a former Kmart in McHenry, Illinois, to a Boxed Up Self-Storage facility. The developer owns the northern half of the strip mall and plans to buy the southern portion at 1900 N. Richmond Road from Philadelphia-based BET Investments. The 86,000-square-foot retail space has been vacant for more than a decade. First Midwest has also proposed developing five additional buildings on the lot with a potential mix of uses, including a car wash. The planning and zoning commission is scheduled to review the application on June 15. Based in Rockford, Illinois, First Midwest is a real estate development firm that’s operated throughout the Midwest for more than 30 years.

Michael and Rhonda Jung intend to develop a boat/RV-storage facility on 20.75 acres in Killeen, Texas. Platinum Coach Storage at 3288 Chaparral Road would limit stored items to boats, RVs, large campers, yachts and jet skis. Commercial vehicles would be prohibited. The project requires an amendment to the city’s land-use map.

James Knefley received approval from the Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania, Board of Supervisors on a conditional-use permit for a proposed self-storage facility at 95 Solomon Road. Knefley received similar approval a year ago, but had to reapply because he changed plans from building units on both sides of the road to just the south side. He did retain the right to build on the north side in the future. The permit is necessary because the property is in a mixed-use zoning district. The new plan reduces the number of buildings from 20 to 13, which would yield as many as 980 units. The proposal also includes outdoor vehicle storage. Knefley has owned the property since 1973. The project faces some public opposition and must still go through other approvals including reviews by Cumberland and Adams County planners as well as a final vote by the board of supervisors.

Nova Storage is expanding its facilities in Filmore and Palmdale, California. It’s adding a 16,500-square-foot, two-story building to 455 A. St. in Filmore, which is a conversion of a 1947 fruit-packing plant. The new structure will incorporate a “saw-tooth” roof feature to unite the two buildings architecturally. To its property at 3305 E. Palmdale Blvd. in Palmdale, the company is adding 30,000 square feet for a total of 110,000. Both sites are expected to open in spring 2023. Headquartered in Mission Hills, California, Nova has 10 locations in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties.

Patriot Holdings, which operates the All-Purpose Storage brand, is seeking permission to convert a former Kmart in Augusta, Maine. The planning commission approved the proposal for the 95,000-square-foot building on Western Avenue. Though council members were receptive to repurposing the building, they objected to Patriot’s plans to add more structures on the site’s parking lot. The discussion was tabled to allow the developer to address their concerns. Headquartered in Keene, New Hampshire, Patriot operates 44-plus facilities encompassing more than 1.3 million square feet in New England.

Officials in Shoreham, England, rejected a self-storage development proposed by Ready Steady Store due to environmental concerns regarding biodiversity and wildlife. The company had intended to build a 53-unit facility on vacant land between railroad tracks and properties on Gordon Road. Officials received more than 40 objections from the public citing concerns for wildlife, tree removal, increased traffic and other issues. Ready Steady had proposed to include boxes for birds, bats and hedgehogs as well as to plant 13 new trees to replace the eight it intended to remove. An ecological appraisal commissioned by the operator rated the site as “low to moderate ecological value,” with low levels of bat activity and one species of reptile present. Ready Steady operates more than 20 self-storage facilities across England.

Rhino Investments Group intends to include self-storage as part of its planned redevelopment of Karcher Mall in Nampa, Idaho. The District 208 mixed-use project at 1509 Caldwell Blvd. includes the conversion of a former Burlington department store into a two-story, 140,000-square-foot self-storage facility that’ll be operated and branded by Extra Space. The full plan, which requires a conditional-use permit, includes a mix of existing and new retail tenants. The center portion of the mall will be demolished to make way for parking. Based in Henderson, Nevada, Rhino is a real estate acquisition and development company that specializes in the redevelopment of underutilized, distressed or environmentally challenged properties.

The Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Planning and Zoning Board approved a conditional-use permit for the development of Road Runner Storage off Moccasin Drive and Northern Boulevard. The facility will contain multiple buildings comprising 100,000 square feet in 750 units, according to Scott Anderson, principal at Scott Anderson & Associates Architects, which is designing the facility. Construction is expected to begin soon and will take about nine months.

Shurgard Self Storage Europe SARL, the European affiliate of U.S.-based REIT Public Storage Inc., is building a new facility in Stuttgart, Germany. Expected to open in 2024, it’ll comprise 62,430 square feet in 900 units. Shurgard opened a new location in Berlin in December and has four projects underway in the country. The company operates 257 self-storage properties comprising 1.3 million net rentable square meters in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Sky Development Group intends to convert a portion of the Bayfield Mall in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, to self-storage. The project at 320 Bayfield St. would transform 4,227 square meters of vacant commercial space in the south section of the property. The project requires an amendment to the municipality’s Official Plan to permit self-storage within the shopping-center commercial designation as well as to rezone the property to include special provisions. City staff is expected to issue a report on its recommendations later this year. If the zoning change is granted, the project would still require site-plan approval. Sky Development specializes in commercial and residential projects.

Co-owners James Stinnett and Shannon West opened Dalton Storage Solutions in Dalton, Georgia. The facility at 2207 Abutment Drive comprises about 80,000 square feet in more than 570 units. The property includes oversized drive aisles and two 12,000-square-foot, climate-controlled buildings. Stinnett and West are native to the area.

W.C. Sawyer, owner of Sawco Self Storage, is seeking zoning approval to build a second location on an 8-acre site half a mile southeast of his facility in Isle of Wight, Virginia. Plans for the parcel on Carrollton Boulevard include building 120,000 square feet of storage in 468 units and 64 outdoor vehicle-storage spaces. A vote on the application was tabled after the planning commission requested Sawyer to return with data that demonstrated a need for another storage facility in the county.

A zoning variance requested by WMG Rockville Owner LLC, an affiliate of Florida-based Miami City Self Storage (MCSS) Development & Investment, was denied. WMG purchased the 52,811-square-foot building at 117 N. Long Beach Road for $5.5 million earlier this year with the intent to convert it to self-storage. The developer planned to add a second floor, which would raise the height of the structure to 30 feet, 18 above what’s allowed by the village code. WMG has the option to amend its request or find another use for the building. MCSS is a joint venture between Rivergate Cos. and SJM Partners.

The Virginia Beach, Virginia, City Council has approved a three-story facility near the corner of Lord Dunmore Drive and Providence Road. Two existing structures on the 1.68-acre property will be demolished to make way for the 114,000-square-foot storage building.

New Sources:
Digital Journal, “Path of Progress” Receives First High-End Smart Facility in Morgantown’s Gateway Development with Rhino Self Storage
Hometown Headlines, U-Haul Enters Local Storage Surge
Jersey Shore, Proposed Self-Storage Facility Clears First Hurdle
New Haven Register, Former West Haven Daiko Restaurant Site May Become Self-Storage Facility
Patch.com, Old Burlington Site in Enfield to Be Storage Facility
PR Web, Carefree Covered RV Storage Celebrates Opening of Flagship Facility
Record Courier, Work on Stor-All Begins in Gardnerville
Whittier Daily News, A Long-Vacant Pico Rivera Property Is Poised for Development, Here’s What Might Sprout Up
Albany Business Review, Family Behind Liedkie Moving Making Bigger Push Into Self-Storage
Daily Herald, Self-Storage Facility Proposed for Mundelein's South Side
Globe Newswire, SecureSpace Self Storage Announces Opening of New Self-Storage Facility in San Diego, California
PR Newswire, Coming to Augusta: U-Haul Building Moving and Storage Facility by 2024
PR Newswire, U-Haul Reveals Plans for Kmart Conversion, 13th Store in Utah
REBusiness Online, Thorofare Capital Closes $20M Loan for 944-Unit Self-Storage Facility in Scottsdale
Sherwood Gazette, Developer Eyes Second Hotel for Sherwood
Whitefish Pilot, Planning Board Recommends Approval of Mini-Storage Facility
Whitefish Pilot, Request for Two-Story Storage Units on Hwy 93 Approved
Central Maine, Augusta Councilors Reject Large Self-Storage Business Proposal at Former Kmart Site
The Smithfield Times, Supervisors OK Carrollton Self-Storage Facility
Central Maine, Augusta Councilors Reject Revised Plan for Storage Business at Former Kmart Site

Previous Sources:
App.com, Brick's Berry Fresh Farms Property to Become Self-Storage Facility
Barrie Today, Self-Storage Could Pack Vacant Space in Bayfield Mall
BoiseDev, Large Portion of Old Karcher Mall to Become Self-Storage; New Stores Planned, Too
Brick Shorebeat, Self-Storage Facility Proposed to Replace Longtime Brick Farm Market
Brick Shorebeat, Brick Planning Board Approves 147K Square Foot Self-Storage Facility
Central Maine, Augusta Considers New Use for Former Kmart Building as Demand for Self-Storage Rises
EIN Newswires, Opening of New Flex Storage Facility in Canton, Georgia
Gettysburg Times, Storage Unit Plans Advance in Cumberland
Killeen Daily Herald, 20-Acre RV Storage May Be Coming to Killeen
LI Herald, Variance for Proposed Storage Facility in Rockville Centre Vetoed Amid Resident Backlash
Morningstar, Big Yellow Gets Green Light for Development in Staines
Newswire, Nova Storage Announces Expansion Plan in Palmdale, CA
Newswire, Nova Storage Announces Expansion Plan in Fillmore, CA
Pilot Online, City Council Approves Permit for Self-Storage Facility in Virginia Beach
Rio Rancho Observer, 100K Square-Foot Storage Facility Could Be Coming to RR
Shaw Local, Old Kmart Site in McHenry Could Turn Into Self-Storage Facility Under Proposal
Sussex World, Extra Self-Storage Units in Shoreham Refused Permission
The Chattanoogan, Dalton Storage Solutions Holds Grand Opening
The Smithfield Times, Another Self-Storage Facility in Isle of Wight?

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