Update 4/28/23 – BDC Holdings and Robert Pryor, director of engineering for Solli Engineering LLC, received approval to build their proposed three-story self-storage facility on the border of Newington and Wethersfield, Connecticut. In addition to 630 interior units, the property will offer 20 drive-up units and a rental office. The developers are purchasing the 11-acre property from Laura Ricci, and Priscilla and Barbara Turgeon.

10/25/22 – 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 October 2022.

BDC Holdings intends to develop a three-story self-storage facility on two lots that straddle the border between Newington and Wethersfield, Connecticut. The 99,300-square-foot project at 2176 and 2180 Berlin Turnpike will devote 10,000 square feet to outdoor storage. The front portion of the 11-acre property, including the site entrance, is in Newington, while the back 7.6 acres are in Wethersfield. The site currently houses an abandoned residence and is surrounded woods. The Wethersfield Inland Wetlands agency will be the first jurisdictional group to address the project with a public hearing.

A joint venture between global investment firm Blackstone Group Inc. and Asia-based Storefriendly Self Storage Group is converting a 12-story industrial building in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong to self-storage. The companies purchased the 150,000-square-foot Novel Industrial Building at 850-870 Lai Chi Kok Road for HK$850 million. The building will be rebranded as Storefriendly Tower. The partnership has pursued similar projects since 2019. Headquartered in New York, Blackstone invests across alternative asset classes on behalf of pension funds and other institutions. Its investments are in Asia, Europe and the United States. Founded in 2002, Storefriendly also operates self-storage facilities in Macau, Singapore and Taiwan.

BLT Martin Road LLC intends to build a three-story, 120,000-square-foot self-storage facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia. As the 4-acre site at 4153 Falcon Parkway was rezoned in 2020 to a highway business use, it requires a conditional-use permit for self-storage. The property was originally targeted for retail without success. The city council held a public hearing for the permit on Oct. 20 and is expected take a vote on Nov. 17.

Boxed Up Self-Storage, which operates seven facilities in Illinois, opened a new location in Belvidere. The facility at 1930 W. Chrysler Drive offers 164 drive-up units. Boxed Up also has properties in DeKalb, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mulford, Poplar Grove and Rockford.

Bridgton Investment LLC, which seeks to expand its self-storage development in Lovell, Maine, from three buildings to nine, has asked the board of appeals to overturn a code-enforcement officer’s denial on its conditional-use application, filed by Terradyn Consultants in January. The company claims the July rejection from Alan Broyer was based on a misinterpretation of a local ordinance, which was changed in March to update the town’s land-use table. The planning board approved three structures totaling 18,100 square feet for Bridgton last year. Those are expected to open next month. The expansion would add another 29,000 square feet on 2.57 acres of the 4-acre site.

Hollow Tree Self Storage expanded its Darien, Connecticut, facility at 131 Hollow Tree Ridge Road by adding 5,000 square feet of underground wine storage. The wine vault opened with 88 units and has room to expand to as many as 188. The project includes a conference room that can be used by tenants and local organizations for private wine tastings or meetings. The company also plans to use the space for community events.

Lynd Development Group LLC, a division of San Antonio, Texas-based Lynd Group, is developing a $30 million mixed-use project in Miami that’ll include self-storage. The eight-story building at 9300 S. Dixie Highway will comprise 127,923 square feet of storage and 6,025 square feet of ground-floor retail. Construction is expected to begin in spring and be complete within a year. Founded in 1980 and based in San Antonio, Lynd acquires, develops and manages commercial and residential real estate.

Maple Reindeers converted a 1970s-era warehouse in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, into mixed-use project that includes Vanguard Self Storage and office space for rental. The two-story facility at 75 Newkirk Road comprises 12,414 square feet. Construction on the $6 million dollar project was expected to begin in January 2021, but faced several delays due to the pandemic and supply-chain issues. The facility was designed by A.W. Trusevych Associates Architect Inc. Maple offers construction, design and engineering services to several industries.

Moove In Self Storage, which operates about 60 locations in six states, opened a two-story facility in York, Pennsylvania. The property at 651 S. Richland Ave. comprises 66,000 rentable square feet in 579 units. A second phase, scheduled to begin next spring, will encompass 90 additional units, along with 115,000 square feet of vehicle-storage space. Moove In is a participating regional operator of National Storage Affiliates Trust, a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust.

November 6 Investments and affiliate Uptown Studio and Storage LLC intend to develop a mixed-use project in Memphis, Tennessee, that includes self-storage, residences and artist studios. The Greyhound bus station in the 500 block of N. Main Street will be converted to loft apartments and commercial space, while a newly constructed, 80,000-square-foot building on an adjacent, vacant lot will offer 450 storage units and 20 artist studios. The venture will be reviewed today by the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County. Memphis-based November 6 Investments specializes in commercial and residential projects.

10/13/22 – 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 October 2022.

Apple Self Storage, which has 43 properties in Canada, opened a new location in Holland Landing, Ontario. The 30,000-square-foot facility at 19877 Bathurst Street was a conversion project. Founded in 1975, family-owned Apple operates in New Brunswick, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Keith and Kim Bridges opened Metro East Mega Storage in Edwardsville, Illinois. The facility at 5222 Chain of Rocks Road specializes in oversized units for recreational vehicles. The Bridges operate three other self-storage facilities under the Metro East Mini Storage name, including one near this new project.

Columbus Capital LLC is converting the former Smith’s Food & Drug grocery store in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to self-storage. The 58,000-square-foot building at 535 Central Ave. has been vacant since 2014. The local planning and zoning commission approved a special-use permit good for five and a half years. Columbus will then need to submit a new application. The company is led by business partners Jeff Branch and Greg Gonzales, who specialize in residential and commercial real estate development.

Corstor LLC intends to develop a self-storage project in a residential neighborhood in Post Falls, Idaho. The 211-unit facility will be built between Corbin Road and Megan Street, an area with single-family, residential and high-density, multi-family zones. The planning and zoning commission voted 4-2 on Oct. 11 to approve recommendation of a special-use permit for the project, despite opposition from residents. The city council still must review the application.

Cubic Storage opened a new location in Swindon, England. The facility on Hobley Drive was converted from the former Handy Garden Machinery building. Cubic also has sites in Farnborough and Southampton, England.

Mike and Jessica James are seeking approval to build a self-storage facility in Moneta, Virginia. The Franklin County Board of Supervisors tabled the request for a special-use permit following resident opposition during a Sept. 20 public hearing. Plans for the site near Lovely Valley and Scruggs Roads include traditional storage units and vehicle storage. The supervisors had pre-approved the project for fast-tracking on Aug. 25. Residents claimed they didn’t receive notice about the public hearing until Aug. 26, which didn’t allow them enough time to provide feedback. The supervisors will revisit the proposal at their October meeting.

The Weirton, West Virginia, Zoning Board of Appeals approved a conditional-use permit request from Antonio Magnone, who intends to convert the former DeCaria’s Market at 3684 Pennsylvania Ave. to self-storage. The permit was required because the building is in a mixed-use district. Magnone told planners he purchased multiple neighboring buildings with the intention of redeveloping them with new uses.

Middletown Self Storage is seeking zoning approval to build a second location in Middletown, Rhode Island. The proposal was well-received by the planning board at a Sept. 14 meeting. Plans for the 1.5-acre vacant lot on Valley Road include a two-story building with a basement comprising 17,000 square feet. To move forward, the project will require a special-use permit from the zoning board of review and permitting from both the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Transportation.

Doug and Karina Nelson are building Coppertop Storage in Poulsbo, Washington. The couple purchased the 5-acre parcel in August 2021 for $950,000. The facility near Ryde Drive and Washington State Route 3 will include several storage buildings comprising 100,000 square feet and outdoor vehicle storage. It’s expected to open next summer. The Nelsons also own Coppertop Park & Self-Storage on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Moove In Self Storage, which operates more than 50 locations in six states, is converting a three-story building in Norwich, Connecticut. The company purchased the 2-acre property at 208-210 Salem Turnpike for $2 million. Plans call for 87,000 square feet. Moove In is a participating regional operator of National Storage Affiliates Trust, a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust.

SecureSpace Self Storage opened a newly built facility in Milani, Oahu, Hawaii. The four buildings at 95-1 Wikao St. comprise 82,043 square feet. The property also offers vehicle storage. Based in Torrance, California, SecureSpace is the operating brand for Insite Property Group. It has more than 35 facilities in 11 states.

Security Public Storage plans to raze a 40-year-old warehouse in Herndon, Virginia, and build self-storage in its place. The planning commission unanimously approved the plans for the 30,000-square-foot structure at 331 Victory Drive. The project still needs authorization from the city council. Security is a family-owned and -operated company with more than 50 facilities in California, Oregon, Nevada, Maryland and Virginia.

Norway-based Self Storage Group ASA (SSG) is buying a property in the Fidjemoen neighborhood of Kristiansand, Norway, for NOK 19 million on which it intends to build a 2,300-square-meter City Self-Storage facility. The company has two development projects in the city scheduled to be complete next year. It operates 131 facilities across Scandinavia under the City Self-Storage and OK Minilager brand names. Its portfolio comprises 180,500 square meters.

Spartan Investment Group LLC, a development, property-management and real estate firm that operates the FreeUp Storage brand, is expanding its facility in Tyler, Texas. Plans for the property at 4044 County Road 384 include two climate-controlled buildings comprising nearly 54,000 square feet in 314 units and 15 vehicle-storage spaces. The site currently offers 77,342 net rentable square feet in 517 units. The addition is expected to be complete this month. Spartan is expanding its two other locations in the city. Founded in 2014 and based in Golden, Colorado, the company is a privately held real estate investment firm that operates more than 50 facilities in nine states.

Squab Storage is developing a new facility in Stowmarket, England. The £3.5 million project in the Atex Business Park will comprise 32,000 square feet in about 100 units, all targeted primarily at small businesses. It’s expected to be complete next spring. Squab operates three locations in England.

Star Lafayette LLC intends to convert a former Sears store in Lafayette, Louisiana, to self-storage and a car wash. The company recently acquired the 197,000-square-foot building at The Acadiana Mall for $1.5 million. The automotive portion of the structure has been earmarked for the car wash. Star Layette is an affiliate company of Florida-based Mustard Street Management, which specializes in converting big-box retail spaces to self-storage.

Storelocal, which operates 60 self-storage facilities in several states, opened a new location in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The three-story building at 1005 Third Ave. S.W. offers climate-controlled units. Storelocal is a cooperative created by independent self-storage operators to offer member benefits with economies of scale.

Stor-It Self Storage, which operates 20 facilities in five cities in Idaho, is developing a new location in Boise. Expected to open in November 2024, the facility at 6099 S. Federal Way will comprise 240,000 square feet. The project is being built by Forge Building Co., which has collaborated with the operator since 2001.

StoreRight Self Storage has opened a new location in Spring Hill, Florida. The newly constructed building at 6108 Commercial Way offers drive-up climate-controlled units and covered vehicle storage. StoreRight operates 11 Florida facilities, with two others in development. Its portfolio comprises 700,000 square feet in nearly 6,000 traditional units and outdoor vehicle storage.

True Storage, which owns seven facilities, intends to convert a flex/industrial building in Attleborough, Massachusetts, to self-storage. Built on 8.27 acres at 34 Forest St., the 183,300-square-foot structure is on the former Texas Instruments campus. True recently acquired the property from ACCBLDG 1 LLC for $3.1 million. Based in New Hampshire, the company focuses on ground-up construction and conversion projects.

Turlock Self Storage opened in Turlock, California. The newly built facility at 528 Dianne Drive offers a variety of unit sizes. The property is a part of Smart Self Storage, which operates 12 facilities in California.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. expanded its facility at 476 Amherst St. in Nashua, New Hampshire, adding 600 indoor climate-controlled units. The 7.2-acre site houses a two-story, 76,000-square-foot building. An additional 63 units are being added to a remotely operated facility nearby at 11 Northwest Blvd. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages more than 76.6 million square feet of storage space across North America.

A private buyer purchased a 10.6-acre parcel on Pennsylvania Route 73 in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, for a self-storage development. The facility will occupy 2.6 acres and comprise 24,000 square feet in 220 units. The land purchase was executed by Brian Davison, vice president of brokerage for Investment Real Estate LLC, a provider of brokerage, construction, development and management services.

New Sources:
Daily Commercial News, Maple Reinders Overcomes Hurdles to Turn Old Warehouse Into Storage Facility
WIFR, Boxed-Up Opens Storage Facility in Belvidere
Lovell Board to Hear Storage Company Appeal Thursday
The Real Deal, Lynd Unveils $30M Dadeland Self-Storage Project
CTPost, A Self-Storage Unit for Wine? Darien Storage Facility Sees Untapped Market in Affluent Fairfield County
Hartford Business, Self-Storage Development Eyed for Berlin Turnpike
Mingtiandi, Blackstone’s Storefriendly JV Completes $108M Kowloon Self-Storage Buy
Patch, Hollow Tree Self Storage to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Wine Vault
The Times, Why a Developer Wants to Build a Self-Storage Facility Near I-985’s Exit 14 in South Hall
WREG, Old Greyhound Station in Uptown to Be Converted Into Mixed-Use Space
Hartford Business, Berlin Turnpike Storage Facility Approved

Previous Sources:
Boston Real Estate Times, True Storage Buys Attleborough Building for $3.1 Million
Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls Press, Post Falls Planning and Zoning OKs Plans for Mini-Storage
Corrido Business Journal, Storelocal Cedar Rapids to Hold Ribbon Cutting Sept. 30
Developing Lafayette, Old Sears Space to Become New Self-Storage, Car Wash Combo
FFX Now, Herndon Planning Commission OKs Replacing a 40-Year-Old Warehouse With Self-Storage Facility
KATC, Sears Building to Become Self-Storage
Kitsap Sun, Construction for Large Storage Complex Underway Along Highway 3 in North Kitsap
Los Alamos Reporter, Planning & Zoning Commission Gives OK to Columbus Capital for Storage Facility at Former Smith’s Store
MarketScreener, Self Storage Group ASA - Acquisition of Property in Kristiansand, Norway
PR Newswire, Expansion Complete: U-Haul of North Nashua Adds 600 Self-Storage Rooms
PRWeb, Apple Self Storage Opens a New Facility Near Bradford, ON
PR Web, Turlock Self Storage Is the Newest Addition to the City of Turlock and Is Now Officially Open for Business
REBusiness Online, Spartan Investment Group Underway on 314-Unit Self-Storage Expansion Project in Tyler, Texas
Swindon Advertiser, New Self-Storage Facility Opens in Swindon
The Business Desk, Business Centre and Self Storage Company Announces Major Expansion
The Day, Self-Storage Firm Buys Property Near Norwich Walmart
The Franklin News-Post, Neighbors Oppose Proposed Moneta Self-Storage Facility
The Intelligencer, Metro East Mega Storage Sets Oct. 13 Ribbon Cutting
The Newport Daily News, Self-Storage Facility Planned for Cleared Lot on Valley Road
The Weirton Daily Times, Former Family-Owned Grocery Store to Become Storage Facility
Yahoo Finance, SecureSpace Announces Opening of New Self-Storage Facility in Mililani, HI