Self-Storage Development and Zoning Activity: May 2023

Update 5/26/23 – 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 2023.

AAA Self Storage opened at 4205 Highway 36 N. in Brenham, Texas. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce was held on May 22. AAA is an affiliate of Premium Spaces, which operates self-storage facilities under various brand names in Nebraska, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas.

Apple Storage Group, which operates more than 100 self-storage locations in Hong Kong, is developing Apple Wine Cellar in Cheung Sha Wan, its first facility dedicated to wine storage. Expected to open in June, the business will feature modern technology, including facial recognition, UV-free lighting, and temperature and humidity controls. It’ll also offer a wine-tasting area and related equipment to customers. Established in 2005, Apple also operates facilities in Kowloon and the New Territories, Hong Kong.

Arcland Property Co. and Chesapeake Real Estate Group opened Self Storage Plus in Lanham, Maryland. The three-story facility at 4210 Parliament Place comprises 129,800 square feet in 1,035 climate-controlled units. Arcland is a real estate development and investment firm that owns more than 40 properties along the mid-Atlantic. Headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, Chesapeake is a commercial real estate company focused on brokerage, development, leasing and property management. Self Storage Plus operates more than 60 sites in the Southeast.

The Collier County, Florida, Planning Commission discussed a proposed, three-story CubeSmart project but deadlocked 3-3 as to whether to recommend approval. The development on the 5.5-acre site at the intersection of 13th Avenue S.W. and Collier Boulevard would comprise 174,000 square feet. The property currently houses a model home that’s been vacant for more than 15 years because the land was ultimately deemed unusable for residential use because of its proximity to two Florida Power & Light substations. A final decision on the project, which requires rezoning to C-5 to allow self-storage, rests with the board of county commissioners.

Doug Dysert is building a Jackson Self Storage facility in Jackson, Michigan, as an expansion to an existing location next door. The first phase of the project at 1700 S. Cooper St. will include six large units ranging from 560 to 800 square feet, targeted at small businesses, as well as 135 vehicle-storage spaces. Two additional buildings could be added next year, depending on demand. Dysert acquired the 7-acre property for $165,000 in 2021. This will be Jackson’s third location.

The Navajo County, Arizona, Board of Supervisors approved two self-storage projects. Joseph Holland of 2Guys Investments will build a facility on 1.2 acres off Bourden Lane and Silver Creek Drive in White Mountain Lakes. Logan Rogers received a special-use permit to develop his facility on 4.3 acres in Overgaard. The first phase of the Rogers project will comprise 200 units and 44 vehicle-storage spaces. A planned second phase would replace the vehicle spaces with 100 additional storage units. Both developments are required to include perimeter fencing and allow county inspections of the fencing and landscaping every two to five years.

Howzit My China Pty. Ltd. intends to develop a self-storage facility in Abbotsford, Australia. The company recently acquired the former Kodak building and Carlton & United Breweries headquarters at 2-6 Southampton Crescent, along with a neighboring parcel with existing warehouse and office space, from development firm Hengyi for $19 million. Built in 1928, the curved Kodak building will be converted to storage and adjoined with a newly constructed, nine-story structure. The project will comprise 10,404-square-meters in more than 1,200 units. It’ll be designed by Storcad Pty. Ltd. Founded in 2007 and based in Melbourne, Australia, Howzit is led by Carl and Gayle Sachs. It specializes in the development and management of commercial and industrial properties.

Insite Property Group, which operates the SecureSpace Self Storage brand, opened a six-story facility at 33 W. Main St. in Elmsford, New York. Based in Torrance, California, InSite has more than 50 locations operating or under construction.

LSC Development LLC completed its conversion of a former plumbing-supply building in Chicago to self-storage. The property at 4701 N. Ravenswood Ave. comprises 78,698 rentable square feet in 916 units. The project included the addition of a partial third floor to the existing two-story structure and was designed by SGW Architects, with Cobalt Commercial Construction serving as contractor. Construction financing was provided by Centier Bank. Once complete, it’ll be branded and managed by REIT Extra Space Storage Inc. Based in Barrington, Illinois, LSC focuses on the acquisition, development and ownership of commercial and self-storage properties.

Marion Self Storage opened in Marion, Ohio. The building at 1377 Marion Waldo Road was formerly a Sears department store. The facility comprises 71,018 square feet in 656 temperature-controlled units. It’ll be managed by Storage Asset Management, a property-management company based in York, Pennsylvania.

The conversion of a mall in Machensey Park, Illinois, will include Nestory Park Self Storage. The facility will comprise 86,000 square feet and offer traditional and vehicle storage. The $7 million mixed-use development on North Second St. will also include bars and restaurants.

Premier Storage Investors intends to develop a self-storage facility in Framingham, Massachusetts. The $6 million project at 579 Old Connecticut Path will consist of two buildings comprising a combined 90,000 square feet. Once complete, it’ll be managed and branded by Extra Space. Founded in 2013, Tennessee-based Premier is a privately held self-storage acquisition, development and asset-management company.

Joseph Putnam, owner of Putnam Automotive Group LLC, is seeking zoning approval to build self-storage on a 1.5-acre parcel he owns in Danbury, Connecticut. The property on Great Pasture Road is near Safe and Sound Storage and Prime Storage, a facility Putnam developed and later sold. Plans for the site include demolishing an existing home and constructing a four-story structure and two smaller buildings.

Richard Raubeson received approval from the planning board to build Bears Self Storage in Turner, Maine. The project at 40 Airport Road will be constructed on part of the former Twitchell Airport site. Plans for the first phase include 28 units. There’s another Bears location in Auburn, Maine.

Safeguard Self Storage, which operates more than 88 locations in six states, is developing a new facility in Levittown, New York. Plans for the 1-acre property at 3245 Hempstead Turnpike include 62,750 net square feet in 888 climate-controlled units. The company expects to break ground in July. Founded in 1989, Safeguard has a portfolio comprising more than 4.5 million square feet.  

Secured Storage LLC is converting a former school in Erie, Pennsylvania, to self-storage. Company owner Dan Fiore received a variance for the property at 2310 Plum St. The Erie School Board will vote on the sale of the 60,600-square-foot building next month. Plans for the school include 60 to 100 climate-controlled units on the first floor of the two-level structure. Though Fiore will remove some of the building's historical architectural, he plans to put them on display. Secured Storage has converted two other properties in Erie to self-storage: the former Stover's Ceramic Supply at 531 E. 25th St. and Pinnacle Services at 2001-09 Wallace St.

Developer Michael Tesh received zoning approval to build a self-storage facility in Lexington City, North Carolina. He plans to purchase the 6.75 acres owned by Tony Orrell and construct a two-story building comprising 75,000 to 100,000 square feet in more than 500 units. Expected to open next year, the project will cost $5 million to $6 million. Tesh owns City Fitness and Tesh Realty. He’s also redeveloping the former Lexington HomeBrands building into Holland Brooks Event Center and Distillery.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. intends to build new self-storage facilities in Bakersfield, California; Belton, Missouri; and Port Clinton, Ohio. The four-story Bakersfield location will be constructed on a vacant, 11.45-acre lot at 9407 S. H St. It’s expected to open next summer. The company recently acquired a 5.8-acre parcel in Belton on which it will develop a 600-unit facility that’s scheduled to open in mid-2025. The three-story Port Clinton project on W. State Route 163 will offer 650 storage units. It’s also planned for completion in 2025.

U-Haul is also converting a former Lowe’s home-improvement store in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, to a 650-unit self-storage facility. The 131,520-square-foot building on Brookdale Avenue has been vacant for three years. The company acquired the property on April 21. The project is expected to be complete next year. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages more than 78.1 million square feet of storage space in North America.

An unnamed developer is converting the former Woodbridge Bowling Center in Woodbridge, New Jersey, to self-storage. The 1.8-acre site at 346 Main St. was sold by owner Joe DiSilvestro.

An unnamed developer received initial approval to build self-storage with drive-through access on a 9.46-acre lot in Fairborn, Ohio. The property at 224 E. Dayton Yellow Springs Road contains vacant buildings. It’s unknown whether they’ll be demolished or recycled.

Milford, Massachusetts, officials voted to discontinue Old Cedar Street as a public way, clearing the path for a proposed self-storage facility to be developed along the 500-foot roadway. The three-story, 600-unit project would still require town approvals, including a special-use permit. A public hearing is scheduled for June 6.

5/11/23 – 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 May 2023.

All Storage, which operates two locations in Plano and Saginaw, Texas, opened a third in Fort Worth. The facility at 10200 Summer Creek Drive comprises 260,000 square feet in 1,622 units. It’ll be managed by Storage Asset Management, a property-management company based in York, Pennsylvania.

Arcland Property Co., a developer and owner of self-storage facilities in the mid-Atlantic states, opened a new location in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The property at 37 Triamigas Drive contains six buildings comprising 105,000 square feet in 675 units. It’ll be managed and branded by Self Storage Plus, a third-party management company that operates 65 locations in the Southeast.

Baco Properties intends to convert an ice rink to self-storage in Fresno, California. The project at 2473 N. Marks Ave. would serve as an expansion to an existing Security Public Storage facility next door. In addition to transforming the ice rink, it’ll include construction of two single-story buildings comprising about 44,000 square feet, with 103,000 square feet designated for boat/RV storage. The development requires a conditional-use permit. Valli Architectural Group is the designer. If approved, the facility is expected to be complete by summer 2024. Founded in 1967 and based in San Francisco, Baco is a family-owned real estate investment and management company that operates 51 Security Public locations across California, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia.

Real estate investment trust (REIT) Extra Space Storage Inc. intends to build a four-story self-storage facility on a vacant, 2.5-acre lot in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. The project at 1199 Pacific Ave. would comprise 121,000 square feet in about 900 units. The property is at the end of a residential street but faces U.S. Route 13. The city council will review the plan after receiving recommended approval from the planning commission.

HeyRay Self Storage intends to expand its existing facility at 13304 Highway 7 in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, onto an adjacent lot. The project includes increasing the size of four existing buildings and constructing three new structures at 13376 Highway 7. Eventually, HeyRay plans to have nine storage buildings comprising 7,820 square meters across the 5.66-acre site. A public hearing was scheduled for May 8. HeyRay is an affiliate of real estate brokerage Your Home Today Realty Inc.

Insite Property Group, which operates the SecureSpace Self Storage brand, is developing a new location in Seattle. Plans for the site at 6305 Corgiat Drive S. include four stories comprising 128,822 square feet. It’ll be designed by of Jackson | Main Architecture, a Seattle-based architecture firm. Based in Torrance, California, InSite has more than 50 facilities operating or under construction.

The Oro Valley, Arizona, Town Council voted 5-2 to deny a conditional-use permit that would have allowed Johnson Development Associates to build a self-storage facility in the Mercado del Rio retail center. Johnson proposed a two-story structure comprising 101,200 square feet in 887 units and 52 vehicle-storage spaces. Vehicle storage was already a permitted use in the zoning district, but not self-storage. Though several of the retail spaces in the complex have been empty for about 20 years, the majority of councilmembers determined the project was incompatible with surrounding properties and inconsistent with the general plan. Based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Johnson owns commercial and industrial properties including self-storage, multi-family rental communities and single-tenant industrial space.

Developer Greg Moore received site-plan approval from the Cody, Wyoming, Planning and Zoning Board for a 28,000-square-foot self-storage facility at 1308 29th St. Moore intends to construct nine buildings across the 2.1-acre site, which is surrounded by residences on three sides. Planners waived a site requirement to build a 6-foot privacy fence along the north and south sides of the property but mandated fencing along the east border and a portion of the south property line. Moore plans to develop four buildings in the first phase of construction followed by five more in phase two.

North Star Storage, which operates a container-storage facility in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, is seeking permission to open a second location in Paisley. The operator submitted an application for the brownfield site bordered by Inchinnan Road and Marchburn Drive. Plans include green, 20-foot-by-10-foot steel containers and a facility office. The council has yet to make decision about the project.

Secure Storage opened a new facility at 530 W. Mondamin St. in Minooka, Illinois. It was converted from the former Dellwood Tire warehouse, with Narvick Bros. Construction serving as general contractor. The site includes heated, indoor, vehicle-storage spaces. Founded in 1999, Secure operates three facilities in Illinois. It’s owned by Matt and Tom Drake.

Shurgard Self Storage Ltd., the European affiliate of U.S.-based REIT Public Storage Inc., is building a facility in Tottenham, London. Expected to open by the end of the year, it’ll comprise 8,200 square meters in 1,200 units. Shurgard operates 267 self-storage properties comprising 1.4 million net rentable square meters in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Simple Storage, which operates two self-storage facilities in Bouctouche and Richibucto, New Brunswick, Canada, opened a new location in Moncton. The facility at 20 Bill Slater Drive offers traditional and outdoor vehicle storage. The company is owned by Tyler Sellars.

Storage Bros., which operates five Canadian locations, opened a new facility in St. Agathe, Manitoba. The site at 396 Voyageur Road offers drive-up storage. The company is owned by brothers Derek and Greg McKnight, who launched Bubble Soccer Winnipeg, a games equipment-rental business, in 2015. Storage Bros. has facilities in La Broquerie, Lac Du Bonnet, Lorette and Winkler, Manitoba, as well as Kenora, Ontario.

StoreAway Self Storage is seeking to convert the Welcome Gym in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, to self-storage. The building in the Grosvenor Terrace would become an extension of an existing adjacent StoreAway building. If the project is approved, construction will begin this fall. StoreAway also operates facilities in Basildon, Bath, Birmingham and Liverpool, England.

True Storage intends to build a three-story facility at 55 Loon Hill Road in Dracut, Massachusetts. The planning board recently approved the site plan and granted a special-use permit. The company recently acquired the 3.67-acre property for $1.4 million through affiliate 55 Loon Hill Nashua LLC. Based in New Hampshire, True owns 19 self-storage facilities branded under various names. The development firm focuses on ground-up construction and conversion projects.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. has purchased land in San Luis Obispo, California, on which it intends to build a multi-story self-storage facility. Plans for the 4.03 acres at 1109 Kendall Road include 700 storage units and a separate structure to house its portable-storage containers. The facility is expected to be complete in 2025. Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages more than 78 million square feet of storage space nationwide.

An unnamed developer has submitted an application to build a self-storage facility in Rye, New York. The planning commission is reviewing the development plan, wetland permit and steep-slope permit for a 3.25-acre vacant parcel near Interstates 95 and 287. Plans include a five-story building comprising 100,000 square feet. The project will also require variances from the board of appeals and an environmental impact report from the State Environmental Quality Review Act.

New Sources:
Go Erie, Zoning Variance OK'd for Self-Storage Business to Operate at Erie's Former Irving School
PR Newswire, Arcland Property Company and Chesapeake Real Estate Group announce the Grand Opening of Self Storage Facility in Lanham, MD
Tap Into Woodbridge/Carteret, Woodbridge Bowling Center Goes ‘Splitsville’
The Dispatch, Lexington Council Approves Zoning for County's First Class A Self Storage Unit
23 WIFR, Storage Facility Part of $7 Million Machesney Park Mall Development Project
News Times, Danbury Businessman Wants to Add More Self-Storage Units Near Bethel; Needed Due to Housing Growth
The Reporter, Bensalem Developer to Build Two Self-Storage Warehouses in Bristol
Fairborn Daily Herald, Storage Units Approved for Construction
Sun Journal, Self-Storage Business Approved at Former Turner Airport
Brand Spur, Apple Storage Group – The First Wine Storage Store to Grandly Open in June
Globe Newswire, SecureSpace Self Storage Opens New Self-Storage Facility in New York City MSA
Gulfshore Business, New Three-Story Storage Facility Proposed on Collier Boulevard Near Golden Gate City
KWHI, Ribbon Cutting Monday for AAA Self Storage Brenham
M Live, What’s That? A New Storage Facility Is Being Built in Jackson
Milford Daily News, Milford Town Meeting Votes to Set Up New Storage Facility on Old Cedar Street
PR Newswire, U-Haul Acquires Land by I-49 for First Company Store in Belton
PR Newswire, U-Haul Announces Plans for New Company Store in Bakersfield
PR Newswire, U-Haul to Build New Moving and Self-Storage Center in Port Clinton
PR.com, New Storage Facility Opening in Ravenswood, Chicago, IL
Real Estate Source, Self Storage Operator Snaps Up Ex-Kodak HQ
Standard-Freeholder, U-Haul Moving Into Former Lowe's Building in Cornwall
White Mountain Independent, Navajo County Supervisors Approve Three Storage Projects
Worcester Business Journal, Tennessee Firm Plans $6M Extra Space Storage Facility in Framingham

Previous Sources:
Cody Enterprise, Storage Facility Approved by P&Z
Daily Journal of Commerce, Self-Storage Planned in Georgetown
Gloucestershire Live, Gym Could Be Turned Into Self-Storage Units as Membership Dwindles
Huddle, High-Tech Self-Storage Company Expands to Moncton
Morris Herald-News, Secure Storage Opens Third Location in Minooka
Patch.com, City of Rye: Proposed Self-Storage Facility
Phillyburbs.com, 900-Unit Self-Storage Center OK'd in Bristol Township
PR Newswire, Largest Storage Owner and Developer in the Mid-Atlantic Continues Aggressive Growth with New Facility
PR Newswire, U-Haul to Produce Jobs, Self-Storage With Land Acquisition in San Luis Obispo
The Business Journal, Proposal Would Turn Fresno’s Gateway Ice Center From Skating to Self-Storage
The Citizen, Storage Bros Opens in Ste. Agathe
The Gazette, Plans for Storage Facility Submitted to Renfrewshire Council
The Hamilton Spectator, Town Seeks Input to Extend Furnace Room Brewery Use in Georgetown and Expand a Self-Storage Facility
The Sun, Storage Facility Planned for Loon Hill Road Property in Dracut
Tucson Local Media, OV Council Says ‘No’ to Self-Storage Proposal