The communities of Dryden and Lansing, N.Y., have seen an uptick in self-storage development due to local demand for climate-controlled units and a reduction in available building space in nearby Ithaca, N.Y. There are at least five projects comprising more than 68,500 square feet between the two towns. Three of the projects will expand existing facilities, while two will be ground-up assets, according to the source.
4 Season Storage doubled its capacity by adding a second building at 1400 Dryden Road, and Storage Squad is developing a three-building, 46,800-square-foot facility across the street at 1401 Dryden Road. The project is the valet-style operator’s first traditional self-storage facility.
I-Deal Self Storage is also building a 10,500-square-foot facility on the corner of Enterprise Drive and Freeville Road. The asset will be the company’s fourth location. It operates two facilities in Ithaca and one in Trumansburg, N.Y.
"From what I’ve heard, our community is underserved by self-storage; we’re not keeping up with neighboring counties and states,” Ray Burger, planning director for Dryden, told the source.
"Tompkins County has generally been left behind over the past 20 years as the storage industry has made some great advances,” agreed Nick Huber, president of Storage Squad. “Most areas of the state have made the transition to climate-controlled facilities. With today's technology, these are not really that much more expensive to build or run, so it is becoming the industry standard and a service customers expect. It's nearly impossible to find a vacant climate-controlled unit within 45 minutes of Ithaca. This leaves a lot of people settling for standard storage spaces and leaving their valuables to the whims of Mother Nature because they have no other option. In an area with weather like ours, that is not a feasible solution."
Two expansion projects are on tap in nearby Lansing. Airport Storage is adding 1,600 square feet to its facility on Hillcrest Lane, and United Storage intends to add 9,600 square feet to its location on Verizon Lane, the source reported.
The influx of activity is being driven in part by favorable zoning in Dryden and Lansing, while still being able to serve Ithaca customers, according to Huber. “Ithaca doesn't have many areas left with the correct zoning for light industry and warehousing. That is why Storage Squad and 4 Season have targeted the Route 13 corridor between Ithaca and Dryden," Huber told the source.
Storage Squad is also planning a self-storage facility in Cortland, N.Y., according to the source. The company specializes in valet-style, pickup and delivery services to college students in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington, D.C.
Sources:
- The Ithaca Voice: What's With All the New Storage Facilities in Dryden?
