November 23, 2021

19 Min Read
Self-Storage Development and Zoning Activity: October 2021

Update 11/23/21 – The Islip Town Council voted against a rezoning that would’ve allowed Safeguard Self Storage to develop its facility in Sayville, New York, on the site of the former F-14 Sports Complex. The Sayville Chamber of Commerce and Sayville Civic Association expressed concerns about the zoning and how it would affect the downtown area. The project will advance no further.

10/21/21 – 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 October 2021.

Apple Self Storage opened a new facility in Port Carling, Ontario, Canada. The facility at 1020 Eveleigh Road offers drive-up units and vehicle storage as well as oversized units and storage containers. Founded in 1975, family-owned Apple operates 36 facilities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Arizona Self Storage, which operates 11 facilities in the state, is building a new location in Peoria. The facility at the southwest corner of Arizona 101 Loop and West Olive Avenue will comprise 67,329 square feet in 875 units. The $8.7 million loan was secured by Dave Kotter, principal of Integrity Capital LLC, a commercial mortgage broker based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

U.K. self-storage operator Big Yellow Group PLC is seeking approval to redevelop a former vehicle-rental business in Slough, England. Plans for the property on Bath Road include removal of several portable buildings and construction of three multi-level structures (two, three and six stories) totaling 135,400 square feet. Big Yellow operates 103 locations under the Big Yellow Self Storage and Armadillo brand names, with most concentrated in Greater London and Southeast England.

Cooper Cos. Inc. intends to develop a self-storage facility in Flagstaff, Arizona. The three-story structure at 1683 W. Route 66 will comprise 110,000 square feet and is expected to be complete next fall. It’ll be designed by Phoenix-based RKAA Architects Inc. Gilbert, Arizona-based TLW Construction will serve as general contractor. Founded in 1978 and based in Scottsdale, Ariz., Cooper is a private real estate company that develops, owns and operates industrial and office properties in addition to self-storage. It’s storage portfolio operates under the Armour Self Storage and Extra Space Storage brands.

Real estate developer Evergreen Devco Inc. intends to convert a former Kmart to self-storage as part of a mixed-use project in Ceres, California. Built in 1976, the existing structure at 1351 E. Hatch Road has been vacant for three years. It’s being joined by four new self-storage buildings totaling 116,624 square feet. The completed facility will be managed and branded by real estate investment trust (REIT) Public Storage Inc.

The larger project includes restaurants and other retail uses. The city must approve a conditional-use permit as well as the creation of six commercially zoned parcels out of the single, 9-acre retail complex. Previous self-storage proposals that sought to only convert the Kmart but not develop the rest of the property were rejected. Evergreen specializes in commercial and multi-family development. It has offices in four states.

Troy Gilchrist, owner of Acumen Realty LLC, is seeking approval to build self-storage on a 1.09-acre parcel he owns in Buffalo, New York. Plans for the property at 142 Botsford Place include a 3,000-square-foot and a 3,600-square-foot building. Designed by Dean Architects PLLC, the $200,000 project would also include outdoor vehicle storage. The site currently houses Gilchrist’s company, A1 Insulation & Coating.

Jefferson Bennett Development Group LLC intends to convert a vacant building to self-storage in Beaufort, South Carolina, and build an additional two-story structure. The project at 1 Parris Island Gateway will comprise 70,485 square feet of storage space and be branded as Extra Space Storage. Though the design-review board granted preliminary approval against the advice of city planners, the project faces several hurdles, including 23 conditions set forth by officials that must be met before final approval. City requirements address setbacks, buffering and color scheme, among other items. Jefferson is based in Savannah, Georgia.

Miami-based Larkspur Acquisitions LLC is seeking approval to convert a former Shopko building in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to self-storage. The company presented its plans for the property at 5300 52nd St. earlier this month. Currently being called Kenosha Self Storage, it would comprise 98,195 square feet in up to 650 units. The facility would likely be managed by a third-party management company.

Lock Stock Self Storage opened a new facility in Pensarn, Wales. Built on 1.5 acres off of the A55 North Wales Expressway, the site offers 30 insulated storage containers. It’ll eventually house 180 10- and 20-foot containers comprising a total of 170,000 cubic feet. Founded in 1999, Lock Stock specializes in container storage. It operates 23 facilities, mostly in Wales.

PHD Storage LLC is developing a Storage Doctor facility in Kernersville, North Carolina. The self-storage project at 1410 Heartland Drive will comprise 92,779 square feet in 560 units. It’s expected to be complete next fall. PHD acquired the 2.15-acre property in May for $455,000. The company is led by Anthony Pike and three partners.

Shurgard Self Storage Europe SARL, the European affiliate of U.S.-based real REIT Public Storage, is converting a building in Randstad, The Netherlands , to self-storage. Expected to open next year, the facility will comprise 48,437 square feet in 700 units. Shurgard operates 61 locations in The Netherlands. Its total portfolio includes 252 properties comprising more than 1.3 million net rentable square meters in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K.

India-based Storekaro will open a new self-storage location in Pune, India, next month. It’ll be the company’s 18th facility in the city. Founded in 2015 by Richa Singh, StoreKaro also operates four facilities in Bengaluru and six in Mumbai.

SurePoint Self Storage is developing its ninth location in Texas. Construction for the 2.59-acre property at the intersection of League City Parkway and South Egret Bay Boulevard in League City will begin next spring. Once complete, the three-story facility will comprise 94,000 rentable square feet in 790 climate-controlled units. The development is SurePoint’s third with Houston-based construction firm Johnson Development. Led by Jeff Bailey, Brian Cisarik and Robert Loeb, SurePoint owns facilities in Pearland, Richmond, San Antonio, Schertz and Sugarland, Texas.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is converting a former Kmart store in Manteca, California, to self-storage. Once complete, the facility at 255 Northgate Drive will comprise 107,318 square feet in more than 700 indoor climate-controlled units.

U-Haul will also convert a former movie theater in Rome, Georgia. The company acquired the 28,484-square-foot Rome Cinemas last month. The project, which will include 500 climate-controlled storage units, is expected to be complete next spring.

U-Haul is also building a new self-storage and truck-rental location in Durango, Colorado. Plans for the 5-acre property near Wilson Gulch Drive and U.S. Highway 160 include a three-story building that’ll comprise 80,000 square feet in more than 500 storage units. The facility is expected to open by 2023. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages nearly 71 million square feet of storage space nationwide.

Planning commissioners in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, are considering a proposal for a self-storage development on Arkansas Highway 59, across from the Siloam Springs Municipal Airport. The facility would include 44,384 square feet of storage, a 1,931-square-foot rental office and 19,800 square feet of covered vehicle storage. City staff have recommended approving the project.

10/8/21 – 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 October 2021.

Stephan Matri Jr., owner of 21 Pralle Owner LLC, is seeking aproval to convert the former West Rock Indoor Sports & Entertainment Complex in Nanuet, New York, to self-storage. He presented plans to the Clarkstown Planning Board for the project at 21 Pralle Lane, which involves building a mezzanine within the two large metal buildings to create a second floor and add 70,000 square feet. A connector building will be demolished, and an interior loading area will be constructed in its place. The site plan also includes a 1,000-square-foot rental office. Matri Jr. is a principal of The Renatus Group, a real estate investment and development company.

4002-22 Ridge Ave Acquisition LLC is developing a five-story self-storage building in Philadelphia. The facility will comprise 103,000 square feet in 700 units with an eco-friendly roof. Richmond, Virginia-based EDC will serve as general contractor. The project is scheduled to be complete late next year.

1290185 B.C. LTD, a subsidiary of EastWest Bioscience Inc. that’s focused on self-storage, has leased land in Oliver, British Columbia, Canada, on which it plans to build a new location. Slated to open early next year, the facility will be automated. It’ll consume 2 acres to start, thought the company has the option to expands to 4. EastWest Bioscience is a wellness company that owns and operates retail and manufacturing subsidiaries.

A4 Capital LLC received approval to build a self-storage facility on a 10-acre parcel in Trenton, Florida. Constructed in two phases at 8439 S.E. 7th Court, it’ll also offer vehicle-storage spaces. JMJ Group, a consulting, design and engineering firm, is leading the project.

Albemarle Business Campus Self-Storage is developing a five-story facility as part of the Albemarle Business Campus mixed-use project in Charlottesville, Virginia. The property will comprise 103,000 square feet of self-storage in 700 units, with two and a half floors below ground. EDC is the general contractor, and it’ll be managed by Storage Sense. Expected to be complete in late 2022, the project will also include multi-family, office and retail.

Amy's Attic, which operates nine facilities in Central Texas, will open a new location on Dec. 1 in Temple, Texas. The property at 4800 S. 31st St. will comprise 102,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage.

Dallas-based self-storage developer Baranof Holdings LLC intends to build a seven-story facility in the Pico Union neighborhood of Los Angeles. The property at 1810 Venice Blvd. would comprise 142,000 square feet in 1,527 units. The lot currently houses a single-story, 17,000-square-foot structure. Baranof develops, builds and acquires self-storage properties nationwide. It operates 10 facilities in California, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Boxed-Up Storage in Poplar Grove, Illinois, has doubled its size with a recent 21,000-square-foot expansion. The facility at 4431 IL-173 offers indoor, climate-controlled units and outdoor vehicle-storage spaces. The locally owned business plans to open more locations in Kane and McHenry Counties, Illinois, according to company president Sunil Puri.

The Springdale, Arkansas, Planning Commission unanimously approved three self-storage projects. Chad Reed Storage at 570 W. County Line Road will comprise more than 110 units in 11 buildings. Crossland Construction will develop Wagon Wheel Storage at 3744 Wagon Wheel Road, which will comprise about 120 units in six buildings. Greystone Storage at 1790 E. Arkansas 264 will comprise 38,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage and about 30,000 square feet of interior boat/RV storage on land owned by John Hendricks Properties. The commission also approved the rezoning of 3.5 acres at 5324 Elm Springs Road from agricultural to commercial. Property owner Connie Burnett plans to sell the land to a self-storage developer.

Real estate developer Rich Kowalski of JLL Real Estate LLC intends to build a self-storage facility on a vacant 3.5-acre lot in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The $2.5 million project on Shawinigan Drive would comprise about 40,000 square feet in 250 units. The zoning committee unanimously recommended the special permit required for the development, though the proposal must still go before the full city council. If approved, the project will still need to be reviewed by the planning board and, most likely, the conservation commission. Kowalski owns several businesses, including a self-storage facility in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Peosta, Iowa, City Council approved a zoning change that could pave the way for Peosta Mini Storage to expand onto land annexed by the city last year. The site was previously zoned for agriculture, which prevented owner Deb McDonough from pursuing the project. Though community members have spoken favorably about the plans, many a larger planned-unit development (PUD) the city is considering, called Water’s Edge. Maps outlining the PUD between Burds Road, U.S. Highway 20 and Cox Springs Road have included the self-storage facility, though how the business fits into the larger project is unclear.

Quarry Hill Properties LLC hit a snag in its quest to build a self-storage facility in Westerly, Rhode Island. Plans for the 1.6-acre site at 61 Ledward Ave. include demolishing the former Autoworks service garage and constructing 20,600 square feet of storage with roof-mounted solar panels and a 600-square-foot office building.

Though the zoning board of review issued a special-use permit and variances for the project, the planning board is requiring a more detailed environmental study. Town engineer Kyle Zalaski recommended phase-two and -three environmental-site assessments after contaminated soils were found during a previous study.

Because the property is within proximity to a pond and nearby wetlands, the developer’s proposed “use of infiltration for stormwater management” might result in “contaminants leaching into groundwater if not addressed,” said town planner Nancy Letendre. Soil samples collected by Applied Environ-Tech Inc. showed “minor spillage areas with surface soil staining,” according to Anthony Nenna, principal engineer for On-Site Engineering Inc., which developed the plan for Quarry. He added that the required remediation is “hand digging it, putting it in a 50-gallon barrel, and disposing of it.”

Ready Steady Store, which operates 26 self-storage facilities across England, received approval to expand its location on Ivy Arch Road in Worthing. The company will construct a three-story building on an existing parking lot, reducing the number of parking spaces from 41 to four. Ready Steady converted the property to storage in 2019.

Safeguard Self Storage intends to develop a facility in Sayville, New York, on the site of the former F-14 Sports Complex. The project at 246 N. Main St. would require a zoning change from retail to industrial. The proposal is opposed by the Sayville Chamber of Commerce, which has started an online petition. The organization claims two other storage projects have already been approved within a mile of the site. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Atlanta, Safeguard operates more than 80 facilities in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

SAFStor Real Estate Co. LLC, which operates more than 30 self-storage facilities nationwide, received approval to build a new location in Somerset, New Jersey. Plans for the property at 470 Elizabeth Ave. include three stories comprising 104,700 square feet. It’ll also include one electric-vehicle charging station.

Shurgard Self Storage Europe SARL, the European affiliate of U.S.-based REIT Public Storage Inc., has opened a new facility in Argenteuil, a commune in the northwest suburbs of Paris. The eight-story building comprises 75,347 square feet in more than 1,100 units. Shurgard operates 250 self-storage properties comprising 1.2 million net rentable square meters in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

U.K. self-storage operator Space Station opened a new location in Daventry, England. The company recently completed improvements to the 28,500-square-foot facility after its acquisition from Squab Storage and Removals. A full rebranding of the property is expected to be complete by year-end. Space Station operates 12 locations in England. Its owned by global real estate investment-management firm Heitman LLC, which manages more than $5 billion of self-storage assets.

Store Space Self Storage, which operates 75 facilities nationwide, is building a storage facility and company headquarters in Ocoee, Florida. The company has 16 acres of land at 560 E. Crown Point Road under contract. The property is just north of Store Space’s 10,500-square-foot corporate office at 330 E. Crown Point Road. The new headquarters will comprise 60,000 square feet, and the 120,000-square-foot self-storage facility will be used for employee training. Construction is expected to be complete in 12 to 15 months. Store Space has 91 employees in metro Orlando, which is nearly half its total workforce. Founded in 2017, it also has offices in Denver, Las Vegas and Castle Rock, Colorado.

Real estate investment firm Turnstone Group LLC opened a new self-storage facility in Fayetteville, Georgia. The property at 235 Highway 314 comprises 55,000 square feet. It’s managed by real estate investment trust CubeSmart and branded under its name. It was designed by Georgia-based Stinard Architecture Inc. and constructed by Griffco Design/Build Inc. Turnstone has another CubeSmart-managed facility under construction in Newnan, Georgia. That project is expected to be complete in May 2022. Founded in 2001, Turnstone is based in Atlanta.

The William Warren Group (WWG), a privately held real estate company that operates the StorQuest Self Storage brand, opened a new location in Ronkonkoma, New York. The three-story building at 2021 Lakeland Ave. is solar-powered and offers climate-controlled, drive-up and vehicle-storage units. Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Monica, Calif., WWG acquires, develops and manages more than 200 self-storage facilities nationwide.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is building a new location in Orlando, Florida. Plans for the 6.04-acre property at 5150 S. Orange Blossom Trail include a three-story, climate-controlled building plus several single-story structures offering drive-up storage. The facility is expected to open in 2023.

U-Haul also intends to build a self-storage and truck-rental facility in Bradenton, Florida. The four-story structure at 14703 E. State Road 64 will comprise more than 100,000 square feet in approximately 700 units. The project is expected to be complete by 2023. U-Haul acquired the 10-acre property last month.

In addition, U-Haul is building a three-story self-storage and truck-rental facility in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The structure would be built on about 10 acres along State Route 95, at the northern-most edge of the city. U-Haul has requested a zoning change as well as a height variance to 45 feet, which is 20 feet more than what’s currently allowed. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages nearly 71 million square feet of storage space nationwide.

UK Storage Co. Ltd. is developing its first self-storage facility in Sheffield, England. The conversion will transform a dilapidated, 15,000-square-foot space that’s part of the 463,000-square-foot Tinsley Industrial Estate owned by London-based Paloma Capital. The 650-unit facility is expected to open early next year. Founded in 2005, UK Storage operates 27 locations nationwide.

New Sources:
Buffalo News, Self-Storage, Halal Market up for Planning Board Review 
Gloucester Live, New Plans for Old Cheltenham Lidl Spark Fears Among Residents
Herald Leader, Siloam Springs Planning Commission to Hear Permit for New Businesses on Ark Hwy 59 Near Siloam Springs Municipal Airport
Insider Media Limited, Slough Storage Site Set for Approval
Kenosha News, Self-Storage Facility Planned for Vacant Big Box Space of Former Shopko on 52nd Street
Manteca-Ripon Bulletin, Storage New Use for Kmart
PR Newswire, Cooper Companies Inc. Announces Development of New, Climate-Controlled Self-Storage Facility Along West Route 66
PR Newswire, U-Haul Reuse of Former Kmart to Bring Jobs, Self-Storage to Manteca
PRWeb, New Apple Self Storage Facility Open in Port Carling
Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal, Self-Storage Firm Opens 23rd Site in Pensarn
The Ceres Courier, Mini-Storage Proposed for Kmart Building
The Durango Herald, U-Haul to Open Self-Storage Facility in Durango
The Indian Express, This Pune Startup Is Thinking Differently About Storage Spaces
The Island Packet, This property at Beaufort Gateway Isn’t Much to Look at. Here’s What’s Planned
Triad Business Journal, Four-Story Storage Facility Under Construction Near Interstate
WFMZ, Now Showing: U-Haul is Repurposing Rome Cinemas for Self-Storage and Retail
Patch, Islip Town Says No to Sayville Zone Change for Safeguard Storage

Previous Sources:
23 WIFR, Boxed-Up Self Storage in Poplar Grove Receives Major Upgrade
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Springdale Planning Commission Approves Warehouse Projects
Business Wire, White Oak Real Estate Capital Closes Its First Loan Investment
Gilchrest County Journal, County Commission Approves SUP for Mini Storage Business Near East Trenton on SR 26
Orlando Business Journal, Winter Garden-Based Store Space Plans Nationwide Expansion, New HQ
PR Newswire, U-Haul Reveals Plans for New Self-Storage Facility in Orlando
PR Web, Amy's Attic Self Storage to Open New Location in Temple, TX
RCBJ, New Owners of West Rock Seeking Approvals for Self-Storage Facility
Street Insider, EastWest Adds Oliver to Its Self-Storage Location Portfolio
Tap Into, Planning Board Approves 104,700 Square Foot Self-Storage Facility and Plans to Reevaluate How it Deals With Warehouses
The Sun, Planning Board Says It Needs More Info on Contamination, Continues Consideration of Ledward Avenue Storage Facility
Worthing Herald, Worthing Self-Storage Facility Looking to Expand
Havasu News, 3-Story Storage Facility Planned Along State Route 95 on Northern Edge of Havasu
Insider Media Limited, Self-Storage Company To Open First South Yorkshire Site
Mass Live, Chicopee Councilors Give Preliminary Approval for Construction of $2.5 Million Self-Storage Facility
Patch, Public Hearing Set for Proposed Safeguard Storage in Sayville
PR Newswire, U-Haul Enhancing Climate-Controlled Storage in Bradenton by 2023
PRWeb, Turnstone Group Completes Development of Self-Storage Facility
Telegraph Herald, Peosta Council OKs Business Rezoning Request
The Real Deal, Self-Storage Firm Plans 140K SF Complex, Its Second in LA

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