Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is converting a former charter-bus building in Staten Island, N.Y., into a self-storage facility. U-Haul Moving & Storage of Port Richmond at 7 N. St. officially opened in July and currently offers truck and trailer rentals, U-Box portable storage, and moving and packing supplies. Renovations are underway to add interior storage units to the 2.8-acre property, which features a two-story building and several smaller structures totaling 37,231 square feet of space. U-Haul is building a new showroom and 2,500 climate-controlled storage units, which are expected to be available for rental within the next six months, according to a company press release.
The property was previously the headquarters of Atlantic Express, an operator of transit, paratransit and school buses. The company closed its doors in late 2013 when it filed for bankruptcy.
The facility is in the Port Richmond neighborhood, one of the oldest on Staten Island, the release stated. The area was an important transportation and industrial center at one time, but was bypassed through development. In recent years, small businesses have opened and returned some commercial vitality to the neighborhood. The new U-Haul has a waterfront view and is across the street from Faber Pool & Park, which offers a number of recreational opportunities.
"When it's complete, Port Richmond residents will have access to a full-service, state-of-the-art U-Haul storage facility," said Will Wolff, president of the U-Haul Co. of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. "U-Haul is so valuable, and we are excited to help improve the community and bring new life to the area."
The acquisition of the Staten Island property was driven by U-Haul’s corporate sustainability initiatives, which support infill development to help local communities lower their carbon footprint, according to the release. U-Haul’s adaptive reuse of existing structures eliminates the amount of energy and resources required for new-construction materials and helps local cities diminish their unwanted inventory of unused buildings, U-Haul officials said.
Established in 1945, U-Haul has more than 44 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,200 owned facilities throughout North America.
