An improving housing market has helped spark self-storage development and consumer demand in Meridian, Idaho. Susan Franden, manager at Central Self Storage, said demand for storage space is up at her facility in part because homeowners are selling their homes faster than anticipated, and the area has seen an influx of new residents arrive from out of state.
People have been selling their homes a little faster than they expected to, so they have to get out of them a little quicker and they havent had a chance to find a new place or theyre building a new home, Franden said. Im still seeing a lot of people coming in from out of state, getting jobs in the area. They might store their things and live with friends and family until they get settled.
Construction of new homes has also contributed to the increase in local consumer demand, according to Roberta Riley, facility manager for the new, 471-unit Citadel Self Storage facility scheduled to open on Chinden Boulevard on Oct. 11. I really think that area has a demand for it, with all those subdivisions, Riley said. I think that it will be a great location. Citadel has already received calls from nearby homeowners interested in storing at the facility, she said.
Another Meridian self-storage facility, Acorn Storage, has had its best year in five years, with an annual average occupancy rate of 85 percent, according to the source. A lot of storage is transitional storage, said project manager Jana Hedrick. The economy is getting better and the area is starting to build again. Thats why I believe its better this year than past years.
Sources:
- Idaho Press-Tribune: Space for Growth: Storage Unit Patterns Reflect Economic Trends
