Self-storage owner Mark Gilkison, who operates Gilkison Mini Storage LLC in Bedford, Ky., has announced his candidacy for the Kentucky House of Representatives. A Republican, he will run for the 47th district seat held by Democrat Rick Rand. The seat represents Carroll, Gallatin, Henry and Trimble Counties.

An entrepreneur, Gilkison started homebuilder Gilkison Construction Inc. in 2001 and property-management company Gilkison Real Estate LLC in 2004. He opened his self-storage facility in 2016, according to the source.

“As a small business owner and a man of God, I’ve seen the challenges citizens face in this new day and age,” Gilkison said in a press release. “After much thought and prayer with my family, I’m announcing that I’ve decided to run for House District 47 because we deserve someone in the state house who will actually fight to address those challenges. Our children deserve a better future than just another vote for the ways of the past.”

Gilkison vowed to fight for “a more pro-small-business, pro-life and pro-Second Amendment Kentucky.”

Partisan election candidates had until Jan. 30 to file paperwork. Kentucky will hold its primary election on May 22 and general election on Nov. 6. The house has 100 members from single-member districts. Representatives serve two-year terms, with the entire house elected every two years.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc., which operates more than 1,300 self-storage facilities across North America and frequently recycles existing structures for its new locations, is converting three more properties to self-storage. The sites are in Arizona, Indianapolis and Utah.

In Mesa, Ariz., U-Haul is repurposing the former Main Street Plaza at 6215 E. Main St. Situated on 7.82 acres, the facility currently offers moving and packing supplies, and trailer and truck rentals. Renovations are underway to add more than 500 indoor, climate-controlled units to the 67,463-square-foot building. Once complete, the location will also offer U-Box portable-storage containers, hitch installation, and a U-Haul Re-Use Center for gently used household goods.

“This is a very exciting acquisition for us. East Mesa is saturated with U-Haul neighborhood dealers, but we have been looking for a way to complement their operations with a full-service U-Haul store,” said Andy Smith, president of the U-Haul Co. of Eastern Arizona.

The Plaza was once home to a Fry's grocery store, an antique mall and other tenants. U-Haul will share the complex with one of its dealers, M&S Sporting Goods.

U-Haul is also transforming a former Menards home-improvement center in Indianapolis. The company opened a temporary showroom at 6800 Pendleton Pike in December. It offers truck and trailer rentals, moving and packing supplies, towing equipment, and U-Box portable storage.

Once renovated, the 107,216-square-foot building will contain 1,000 storage units, some of which will be climate-controlled. Propane, hitch installation, vehicle storage and a U-Haul Re-Use Center will be added to the 9.57-acre property.

“This acquisition gives us the ability to serve the neighborhoods in Northeastern Indianapolis,” said Anthony Jones, president of the U-Haul Co. of Central Indiana. “The City of Indianapolis wants to see this building reused. It has been here for more than 30 years, and the community wants us here. We are excited to grow as a local staple that’s been in operation in Indianapolis since 1970.”

U-Haul is also renovating the former Sierra RV showroom in Sunset, Utah, near Hill Air Force Base. The company acquired the 21,980-square-foot facility at 1200 N. Main St. on Aug. 21. The facility offers truck and trailer rentals, moving and packing supplies, towing equipment, vehicle storage, and U-Box portable storage.

U-Haul plans to add 1,350 self-storage units to the 13.22-acre site. Once complete, the facility will also offer propane sales and hitch installation.

“We will have a full range of customers, from the men and women in uniform serving at Hill Air Force Base, to Weber State University students and residents of surrounding neighborhoods,” said Brad Ling, president of the U-Haul Co. of Utah. “This facility gives us the ability to meet the self-move and self-storage needs of Sunset more effectively.”

Established in 1945, U-Haul owns more than 44 million square feet of storage space. The company’s corporate sustainability initiatives, which support infill development to help local communities lower their carbon footprint, has led to dozens of conversion projects in recent years.

I first considered solar panels for my three Iowa self-storage facilities in 2016. I had received quotes from local installation companies that seemed almost too good to be true.

One of the first things I did was turn to Self-Storage Talk, an online community sponsored by Inside Self-Storage, to seek out other facility operators who’ve invested in solar energy. I also reached out to storage owners in my state who had installed solar panels. The following summarizes my experience with the installation, and offers advice for determining if your facility is a candidate for this technology.

Is Solar Right for You?

The first thing you’ll want to consider is what incentives your state is offering for businesses that adopt renewable energy. Today, there’s a 30 percent federal tax credit for the cost of installing a solar-energy system. In Iowa, there’s an additional 15 percent state-tax credit. On top of that, there’s accelerated depreciation, exemption from property taxes and exemption from sales taxes.

If you happen to live in a small town, there’s even the opportunity to obtain a grant for 25 percent of the project cost. This is available for small businesses in communities of less than 50,000 people (suburbs of larger towns don’t count if they’re part of the metro area).

Next, you’ll want to determine if your property is suitable for solar power, and Google has a free tool for that. Go to the Project Sunroof website and enter your property address. If your site is deemed appropriate, you’ll need to find out what agreements your state’s utility board has with your utility company for distributed power generation. Each state and company can have different rules on how this is handled.

This brings me to the topic of net metering, which is when your utility company allows you to over-produce energy during the day to power your facility at night. You can design a system that produces 100 percent of your round-the-clock energy needs, even though it sits idle during non-daylight hours.

Unfortunately, net metering has been slowly going away in areas that have been heavily developed with solar power, such Arizona, California and Nevada. Don’t count on net metering being there forever, even if your utility company still allows it.

In states where net metering is no longer an option, onsite battery storage is becoming more cost-effective. Companies such as Tesla Inc., LG Solar and others are producing inexpensive power-storage solutions, which should continue to drop in price in the coming years. Because net metering is still available in my state, I opted to wait on battery storage.

Planning the System

Once you’ve decided solar is right for your property, you must choose where to install the panels. The most efficient placement is at a 45-degree angle, facing south. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible, depending on how your property is laid out. If you must face your panels east or west, you’ll reduce efficiency from 10 percent to 20 percent. You’ll also see a reduction when you lower the mount angle. A free online tool from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will help you determine how much power you can generate at your property with various panel configurations.

In self-storage, we generally have an abundance of roof space, but since our buildings are pre-engineered, they may not be designed to sustain large increases in load. This was the case at my properties. With the necessary snow load, my buildings were barely able to sustain the additional weight. Ultimately, we installed the panels facing east or west, at an approximate 5 degree angle to follow the pitch of the roof. Using that orientation only added about three pounds per square foot.

Prepping Your Roof

Today’s solar panels have a life span of 30 to 40 years, so it’s important to plan before you install them. Our roofs were 15, 20 and 22 years old, so they needed some rehabilitation first. We had two primary options: install a membrane system or replace the fasteners. Through my research, I found a membrane tends to only come with a 10-year warranty, which simply wasn’t going to be enough. This moved my focus to replacing fasteners.

For the best results, I discovered I should move up to the next fastener size from what was previously installed. This took some searching, but I found some that were perfect for my needs. After replacing all the fasteners, we also fixed any areas where caulking or sealants were used. One of my facilities had a standing-seam roof, so we just made sure all the seams were properly secured and the metal was still in good shape.

 

Installing the System

Most self-storage owners seek a contractor to do the solar-panel installation. The professional installers we talked to wanted about $2.25 per watt. Fortunately, one of our owners is a master electrician, so we opted to do the work ourselves.

Permitting is your next step. How much hassle this presents will depend on your location. Each of our facilities is in a different jurisdiction, with a different set of rules. Some are using 2014 International Building Codes and National Electric Codes, while others call for 2017 codes.

In one case, no building permit was required. In another, I had to hire a structural engineer to verify the roof could sustain the additional weight.

Saving Electricity

Over the last several months, we’ve installed 248 solar panels among our three self-storage facilities, each at 345 watts. These will satisfy 100 percent of the properties’ energy needs over the next 30-plus years. That includes heating and cooling the temperature-controlled location.

Based on our 2017 power bills, and after factoring in tax breaks, we expect a total system payoff in less than five years! We’re also shielded from future rate increases from our utility company, which is good because it plans to issue a 10 percent to 12 percent increase in my jurisdiction this year. Lastly, and most important, by installing solar, we’re being good stewards of our planet.

Randy Lucore, president of CR Area Storage, has been in the self-storage industry for more than 20 years. He operates three facilities in Cedar Rapids, Marion and Palo, Iowa. For more information, e-mail [email protected]; visit www.crareastorage.com.

The Fond du Lac, Wis., City Council last week voted 6-1 last against a special-use permit that would have allowed a self-storage development in the Wildlife Acres subdivision south of Highway 151. Jerry Van Lanen of All Around Storage LLC was seeking to build a facility comprising about 300 storage units, according to the source.

Twenty-four speakers addressed the council during the Jan. 21 meeting, with the majority arguing against the proposal. Those in opposition cited possible decreased home values, security issues and increased traffic as primary concerns, the source reported.

“There is no fix for a mistake tonight,” Robert Oberbeck, president of the subdivision, told the council. “You need to make the right decision. There are no do-overs. Please defeat this resolution.”

Van Lanen countered that resident concerns were misconceptions and indicated the facility would generate little daily traffic. He also argued the facility would be clean and secure. When the council denied the permit, opponents applauded the decision, according to the source.

Van Lanen is also seeking a variance for another self-storage development he’s proposed in Buchanan, Wis. A board of adjustment public hearing for that application is scheduled for Feb. 12.

The five largest publicly traded, U.S.-based self-storage real estate investment trusts (REITs)—CubeSmart, Extra Space Storage Inc., Life Storage Inc., National Storage Affiliates Trust and Public Storage Inc.—have announced when and how they will reveal their earnings statements for the fourth quarter of 2017, which ended Dec. 31.

CubeSmart

CubeSmart will release its fourth-quarter financial results after the market closes on Feb. 15. An accompanying conference call will be held at 11 a.m. ET on Feb. 16. A live webcast of the conference call will be available from the investor-relations page of CubeSmart.com. The dial-in numbers are 877.506.3281 for U.S. callers, 855.669.9657 for Canadian callers and 412.902.6677 for other international callers. To avoid delays in joining the call, participants can pre-register and receive a special dial-in number and PIN at http://dpregister.com/10115564.

After the live webcast, the call will remain available on the company website for 30 days. In addition, a telephonic replay of the call will be available through March 16. The replay dial-in number is 877.344.7529 for domestic callers, 855.669.9658 for Canadian callers and 412.317.0088 for other international callers. The conference number is 10115564.

CubeSmart owns or manages 937 self-storage facilities across the United States. Its operating portfolio comprises more than 60.5 million square feet.

Extra Space Storage Inc.

Extra Space will host a conference call on Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. ET, to discuss its financial results. The REIT hasn’t announced when it will release its earnings report but typically issues it after the market closes the day before the call.

During the call, company officers will review performance, discuss recent events, and conduct a question-and-answer period for registered financial analysts. All other participants will have listen-only capability.

The phone number for the call is 855.791.2026 for U.S. callers and 631.485.4899 for international callers. The conference-call playback will be accessible at 855.859.2056 in the United States or 404.537.3406 internationally. Extra Space hasn’t yet indicated the participant passcode for the call.

The conference call will also be available on the investor-relations page of ExtraSpace.com. Those who wish to listen online should visit the website at least 15 minutes before the event start time to register and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call is usually available online for 30 days.

The full text of the earnings report and supplemental data will also be available on the company website immediately following the earnings release to the wire services.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space owns or operates 1,513 self-storage properties in 38 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. The company’s properties comprise approximately 1 million units and 114 million square feet of rentable space.

Life Storage Inc.

Life Storage, formerly Sovran Self Storage Inc., will issue its quarterly results after the market closes on Feb. 21. The company will conduct a conference call to review the financial results on at 9 a.m. ET Feb. 22.

The call can be accessed at 877.737.7051 within the United States or 201.689.8878 internationally. Participants can pre-register and receive a passcode and unique PIN at http://bit.ly/2rRIJAn. Management will accept questions from registered financial analysts after prepared remarks. All others are encouraged to listen to the call via webcast from the investor-relations page at LifeStorage.com.

The webcast will be archived for 90 days. A telephone replay will be available for 30 days after the meeting by calling 877.481.4010 and entering conference ID 23869.

Based in Buffalo, N.Y., Life Storage operates more than 700 self-storage facilities in 28 states, under the Life Storage and Uncle Bob's Self Storage brand names. Its portfolio of owned and managed facilities comprises about 49 million square feet.

National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSAT)

NSAT, a Maryland REIT, will reveal its earnings statement for the quarter that ended Dec. 31 before the market opens on Feb. 26. The company will conduct a conference call to review the financial results the same day at 1 p.m. ET.

The call can be accessed at 877.407.9711 within the United States or 412.902.1014 internationally. Management will accept questions from registered financial analysts after prepared remarks. All others are encouraged to listen to the call via webcast from the investor-relations page at NationalStorageAffiliates.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived for 30 days.

A telephone replay will be available by calling 877.660.6853 in the United States or 201.612.7415 internationally. The conference ID number is 13646795.

Headquartered in Greenwood, Colo., NSAT is a self-administered, self-managed REIT focused on the acquisition, operation and ownership of self-storage properties within the top 100 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States The company has 530 self-storage facilities in 29 states comprising approximately 33 million net rentable square feet. It's owned by its affiliate operators, who are contributing their interests in their self-storage assets over the next few years as their current mortgage debt matures.

Public Storage

Public Storage will release information about its fourth-quarter 2017 earnings on Feb. 20. A conference call is scheduled for Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. ET, to discuss the results.

The dial-in numbers for the live conference call are 866.406.5408 for U.S. callers and 973.582.2770 for international callers. The conference ID is 1389368. The live webcast will be available through the investor-relations page of PublicStorage.com and accessible on demand through March 7. For the conference-call replay, the domestic dial-in number is 800.585.8367, the international number is 404.537.3406, and the conference ID number is 1389368.

Based in Glendale, Calif., Public Storage has interests in 2,374 self-storage facilities in 38 states, with approximately 157 million net rentable square feet. Operating under the Shurgard brand name, the company also has 220 facilities in seven European countries, with approximately 12 million net rentable square feet.

Outbox Self Storage, which operates three facilities in North Carolina, is expanding its portfolio in the Carolinas with one acquisition and one new development. Both properties are in new markets for the operator, according to a press release.

Outbox recently purchased Triple SSS Storage in Mooresville, N.C. The property at 2702 Charlotte Highway comprises 100,000 rentable square feet of storage space in 750 units. It sits on more than 9 acres of land and includes room for expansion. Outbox plans to update the facility with climate-controlled units and new security components.

The company is also building a new location in Myrtle Beach, S.C., near the intersection of Glenns Bay Road and U.S. Route 17, in the Surfside Beach community. The development will encompass 75,000 square feet of storage space in 564 climate-controlled units. It’s expected to open this spring.

“Outbox provides a convenient, friendly and local self-storage solution, and we are excited to introduce our model to the Mooresville and Myrtle Beach communities,” said James Cole, company founder.

Established in 2015 and based in Charlotte, N.C., Outbox operates facilities in Charlotte, Hickory and Mooresville, S.C. The company is seeking additional acquisition and development opportunities. It also provides pre-development consulting for self-storage sites.

 

Stor-Age Property REIT, which operates self-storage facilities in South Africa and the United Kingdom, has launched a collection campaign to help distribute water to residents of Cape Town, South Africa. The city is experiencing a water crisis in which its feeder dams are at 27.2 percent capacity. Water taps are expected to run dry as of April 12, according to the source.

Stor-Age has made all its locations across South Africa available to collect and store water for distribution. The company has asked participants to drop off store-bought, 5-liter bottles of water.

“We’re sitting with this massive issue, and we ask what we can do about this. The responsibility is not only the municipality’s but belongs to all of us,” said former rugby star Jean de Villiers, who is serving as the campaign’s ambassador.

Headquartered in Cape Town and established in 2006 by the Lucas family, Stor-Age operates a 62-property portfolio, primarily in four South African metropolitan areas, that comprises approximately 300,000 square meters. It’s the operator appointed by Stor-Age Property Fund Managers Pty. Ltd. to manage and market the property portfolio owned by Stor-Age Property Holdings Pty. Ltd., and was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in November 2015.

Wales-based Storage Giant Ltd. has acquired Your Self Storage in Cannock, England. The facility comprises 32,000 square feet in 279 units. The multi-million-dollar deal is the company’s fourth acquisition in the last 12 months and will make Storage Giant the third largest private self-storage operator in the United Kingdom and fifth largest overall, according to the source.

“We have a multi-pronged expansion approach, which looks at various aspects, because it is a priority for me that any expansion is carefully thought out and not rushed,” Simon Williams, managing director of Storage Giant, told the source. "It is very important that Storage Giant maintains its core principles for both its staff and, of course, for its customers.”

Recent Storage Giant projects include a mixed-use development in Brislington, England, that includes office and retail space in addition to self-storage. The company expanded into England in 2016 with the acquisition of a two-facility portfolio from The Space Place Self Storage.

Based in Newport, Wales, Storage Giant operates four self-storage facilities in England and five in Wales.

Real estate developer Cherney Development Co. Inc. intends to convert the former Happy’s Flea Market in Roanoke, Va., to self-storage. Company affiliate Fort Knox 5411 Williamson Road LLC acquired the 11-acre property in December for $950,000. Owner Jim Cherney intends to keep the shell of an existing 90,000-square-foot structure and offer drive-through, interior storage, according to a source. Though the project will require a special-use permit, Cherney is hopeful that construction will be complete by summer.

The nearly 60-year-old structure was deemed unsafe by the city in 2015, forcing the weekend flea market to close. Cherney has already begun clearing the site, but work inside the building was halted on Jan. 15 after asbestos was discovered inside some tiles. Efforts could resume this week if final testing comes back clean, a source reported.

Local businesses appear to favor the project. Wendy Jones, executive director of the Williamson Road Area Business Association, told a source that redeveloping vacant properties is positive for the community. "Whenever you take a vacant, dilapidated piece of property and you get it viable again, that's huge—just huge,” she said.

“I think it’s a really great idea," added Tony Ardila, who manages a pet store adjacent to the storage site. "I think as much as we can use that space for the wellness of the community the better."

Cherney Development is also in the permitting stage of another Roanoke project in which it’s converting a former auto-parts building to self-storage.

Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., Cherney Development specializes in commercial-property conversions and multi-family housing. It built several Fort Knox Self Storage facilities in North Carolina and Washington, D.C., according to the company website.