Operating multiple self-storage facilities can be difficult, but expansion is often a natural progression for a company. In some cases, it’s the only way to survive in a harsh competitive environment. Some of the common challenges of managing more than one property are:

• Regulating and standardizing expenses
• Maintaining the physical sites
• Establishing and nurturing a corporate culture
• Communicating between locations
• Rolling out changes or improvements
• Ensuring service quality and consistency

It’s easy to fall prey to “silo syndrome,” which is when each facility operates as though it’s independent rather than in synergy with other locations. The goal should be to align all operations across your portfolio. Think of it as a fleet of boats: You want them all heading in the same direction, together, not going off every which way. Let me give you an example.

Let’s say you have two properties. The access gate breaks at Facility B. You have a tested, affordable protocol for these kinds of issues laid out for Facility A, but the manager at Facility B doesn’t know it. In a panic to get the gate fixed, he finds his own solution, and later presents you with a hefty bill from the repair technician. Both time and money could have been saved with the right multi-site strategy.

Of course, daily operation at each location may differ depending on its size, number of staff, volume of tenants and other factors. The bigger the site, the greater the workload. Still, when you align your self-storage operations through a single, comprehensive approach, you’ll see them all improve. Employees will be more efficient, and expenses will decrease. Let’s look at some ways to accomplish this.

Corporate Culture

The importance of corporate culture can’t be understated. No matter how many self-storage locations you have, you must always strive to adhere to the same values and provide the same level of customer service at each. This is how you build a brand out of a business. If you aren’t sure how uniformly things are functioning across your sites, get feedback from your staff and customers! They’ll tell you what their experiences have been.

The first step in establishing your culture is to identify where your company has been successful and the behaviors you wish to nurture across all sites. Use them as an example of how every facility should operate.

Next, build a team of skilled people who can share their knowledge, and put them in charge of educating the rest of your staff. To build and maintain a consistent culture across all locations, you need to focus on training. Help your new employees learn from the experience of your most successful team members.

Make sure all employees undergo the same training program. Teach them to do their jobs efficiently and offer ongoing support. Perhaps choose a single corporate trainer. If you establish a trainer at each location, make sure they’re all in sync. Work closely with them on what to teach, when and how.

You can also outsource your training or creating a series of online courses. To engage and motivate staff, organize workshops with hands-on examples, and let them experience and learn from real-life scenarios. There are many options. The important thing is to nurture corporate culture and ensure your customers have the same level of quality, no matter which of your self-storage locations they choose

Communication

Having strong communication is critical in a multi-site self-storage operation. You must always know how every location is performing. If you don’t, you’ll start to see gaps in your business, which’ll result in financial loss.

Focus on communicating regularly with staff. Be thoughtful regarding which methods you use. Consider investing in quality communication software and equipment. Schedule online or in-person meetings. Discuss all important matters, and make sure you’re up to date on any potential issues. Since you can’t be in several places at once, choose someone at each location who can keep you informed.

You also need to think about the communication you have with customers. Make sure they’re familiar with all your rules and procedures, regardless of location. They should be aware of any changes occurring at their site, or any special promotions in which they can participate. They should also know who their manager is and how to get help when they need it. In addition to facility-specific contact methods, offer a general service number they can call at any time. Service quality is always a primary goal.

Maintenance

As you’ll quickly notice, a key element of operating multiple self-storage facilities is synchronization of work. When it comes to site maintenance, you need to implement a plan. Consider the busiest days of the week and the size of each facility. If they differ, they’ll require various amount of work and resources. Furthermore, one property might be in better shape than others.

With that in mind, you can take three approaches to maintenance:

• Schedule it when needed, depending on the state of the facility
• Schedule proactive maintenance every two weeks or once a month
• Implement day-to-day routines for managers

The option you chose will depend on your finances and the number of staff you have. See what works best for your business.

Marketing

Advertising across multiple self-storage locations can be tricky. Even though it’s the same business, each property is unique. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each will help you create an effective campaign. You must find a balance between the needs of each site. If one of your facilities is operating better than another, allocate more marketing dollars and effort toward getting customers to the weaker site.

Technology

Take advantage of technology. It’s being used in almost every industry now to increase productivity, improve the customer experience, increase revenue and more. When it comes to operating multiple self-storage facilities, you can use it in many ways. For example, there are software applications that’ll help you manage and secure your business remotely. There are also tools that’ll help you automate processes. Do the research and explore what the market has to offer.

Final Words of Wisdom

Here are a few final bits of insight:

• Learn to motivate and educate your staff. A financial incentive isn’t always the best approach. Instead, offer them knowledge, opportunities to improve, and assistance in reaching their goals.
• Be able to recognize—and accept—when your company is in trouble. Listen to your self-storage managers when they tell you about site issues.
• Don’t take staff or customer feedback lightly.
• Closely monitor your competitors, but don’t shy away from learning from them. Those who’ve already walked the path of success know all the pitfalls and shortcuts.
• Don’t rush to expand your business. Know when to move forward and when to wait. If you decide to expand, have a solid plan.

There are many challenges to operating multiple self-storage facilities. It’s hard work, but with the right alignment strategy, everything can be done!

Graham Willis is a freelance author and blogger who writes for Master Moving Guide, which provides a moving-company database, free moving estimates and moving advice. He enjoys reading about technological advances and might even implement some strategies in his future ventures.

 

The roller-coaster that is COVID-19 has led many self-storage operators to reconsider their long-term management approach. For many, the hasty transition to online and contactless rentals this past spring opened their eyes to the potential for industry technology. Some are now pursuing full automation, closing their office doors and embracing remote management in all aspects.

In this thread on Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community, members are discussing their sentiments around an automated approach, including whether they have a plan and what it is, how staff feels about the change, if and how they’ve succeeded, and more. Could it be the right move for your storage business? Gather and share insight from peers and experts.

Update 10/27/20 – The Mayfield Heights City Council gave preliminary approval to a new site plan for Molchan’s self-storage project on Golden Gate Boulevard. Though the developer received variances in early 2019 to include the existing 28,000-square-foot former Backwall Racquet Club building in the project, they expired after a year. Molchan’s new plan is to demolish the structure and build a single, 175,000-square-foot self-storage building.

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1/18/19 – The Mayfield Heights City Council approved the preliminary site plan for a self-storage facility at 1413 Golden Gate Blvd., across from a Best Buy location. Molchan intends to use the existing 28,000-square-foot building and add 86,000 square feet of new construction. The final product will comprise 115,000 square feet of storage in about 780 units. Molchan wants to open the facility in 2020 but must first seek parking, sign and setback variances from the board of zoning appeals. If approved, the project would still need review by the planning commission and approval from the city council.

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12/13/18 – Mayfield Heights Mayor Anthony DiCicco vetoed the city council’s decision to back the BZA resolution that would have allowed Fairchild Management Co. to develop its self-storage project in a U-4 district. On Monday, the council backed the reversal of the resolution, and will now require Molchan to seek a zoning variance, according to the source.

Though DiCicco supports the Fairchild project, his decision sided with previous arguments that allowing self-storage into U-4 districts without a variance would set a bad precedent. "I think it's a good use. I support it,” DiCicco said during the meeting. “I think there would be low traffic volume, and that it's a good use for the property."

The city council is expected to approve the variance.

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10/26/18 – The Mayfield Heights, Ohio, City Council this week backed a resolution by the board of zoning appeals (BZA), paving the way for the community’s first self-storage facility. Some council and BZA members expressed concern that allowing the business type this time would lead to more storage development in the city, according to the source. Still, the BZA approved the zoning request with a 3-2 vote.

The proposal includes construction of 100,000 square feet of storage at 1413 Golden Gate Blvd., according to John Molchan, who represented developer Fairchild Management Co. LLC during the council meeting. The property contains an existing 28,000-square-foot building that “has issues,” such as parking-lot damage, faulty drainage pipes and other problems, Molchan said. Fairchild has yet to decide if it’ll incorporate the structure into its construction plan but hopes to open the new facility next year.

Prior to the vote, BZA chairman Fredric Kramer and councilmember Robert DeJohn spoke against the zoning request. Allowing storage in the U-4 zoning district, which is designated for retail and wholesale business, could set a precedent and invite other storage developers, they warned.

Councilmember Michael Ballistrea noted that the city’s planning commission would have final say on any future storage developments, to which DeJohn countered, “Once you set the precedent, it doesn't matter what the planning commission approves.” He also suggested the city could be sued by a future storage developer if denied permission to build in a U-4 district.

Councilmember Donald Manno said he initially had doubts about the project, however, after touring a self-storage facility Fairchild operates in Westlake, Ohio, he agreed to back it if a solid wall was erected between the facility and neighboring residents. He also encouraged the developer to tear down the existing building and build a new structure. The developer was open to these suggestions, Molchan said.

Paul Murphy, the city’s director of law, noted that if a variance was allowed for only this development, the city could avoid setting a precedent that would allow storage development in any U-4 district. The council voted 3-1 in favor, with DeJohn opposing and council president Donna Finney abstaining due to a personal relationship with the applicant.

Sources:
Cleveland.com, Mayfield Heights McDonald’s Gets Preliminary Approval for Expansion, as Do Plans for Self-Storage Facility
Cleveland.com, Mayfield Heights Council Approves Preliminary Plans for Self-Storage Facility, New Conrad's Building
Cleveland.com, Mayfield Heights Mayor Wants to Limit Self-Storage Zoning, Vetoes Council's Prior Vote
Cleveland.com, Mayfield Heights Council Approves Zoning for City's First Self-Storage Facility

 

The purpose of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is to prohibit discrimination and guarantee that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as others when it comes to employment and the purchase of goods and services. President George H.W. Bush signed the first version of the ADA into law about 30 years ago, and to this day it’s considered one of the most comprehensive pieces of civil-rights legislation.

This article will help you understand the nuances of this important act and how it can impact your self-storage operation. More important, you’ll learn to recognize ADA-related risk at your storage facility and avoid potential lawsuits.

Evolution and Monitoring

Though the ADA didn’t originally apply to self-storage, it certainly does now. Over the years, significant amendments have been made that affect our industry. Now, it’s critical to ensure your operation is properly accessible to all employees and tenants. There are several factors to contemplate, such as:

• New construction vs. older facilities
• Elevators vs. stairs
• Bathrooms
• Sidewalks and walkways
• Parking lots and open spaces
• Door weight
• Door closure/latch
• Service counters

Even your website may need to be compliant. The list of concerns is extensive, and ADA requirements extend to anyone who visits your business. While many of the protocols are easy to follow, it’s important to re-evaluate your property regularly. Aging of buildings and equipment can cause you to fall out of compliance, or the requirements may change over time.

Legal Consequences

From the perspective of a self-storage operator, part of the challenge in complying with the ADA is several parts of the act are ambiguous. When laws aren’t black and white, it can lead to uncertainty. Certain issues may be left for a judge or jury to interpret. How do you think a trial would go based on the following scenario?

Let’s say a self-storage owner has dozens of facilities in California. A tenant who requires a wheelchair decides to rent a regular unit because the handicapped unit isn’t large enough for his needs. Though he doesn’t suffer any type of injury from using the unit, he decides to speak to an attorney because he believes the facility isn’t ADA-compliant.

Though this incident may seem innocent and isolated, a lawsuit can wreak havoc on the business. Let’s say the facility in question isn’t compliant, so the investigation is then extended to all of the company’s other locations. Even if the owner remedied any shortcomings to meet all ADA requirements and recommendations, he’d still have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. In fact, during the time it takes to update each site, fines continue to accrue.

Operators in violation of the ADA can face hefty penalties of up to $75,000 for a first violation and $150,000 for subsequent infractions. Imagine the additional legal and financial impact if the disabled person was injured by a unit door that’s heavier than ADA recommendations.

This type of scenario could happen to anyone. It’s critical that you be proactive about retrofitting your self-storage facility to meet ADA standards. Remember, a disabled person doesn’t have to be injured to file a suit. Even parties who have never even rented a self-storage unit have brought class-action lawsuits against the industry, claiming they’re trying to stop discrimination.

Insurance Coverage

It’s also important to note that ADA-compliance suits aren’t typically covered by business-liability insurance policies. However, there are employment-practices liability products that do offer coverage. To determine whether your self-storage operation is properly protected, ask your insurance agent the following:

• Does my employment-practices liability insurance cover ADA?
• What is the sublimit for ADA coverage?
• Is legal defense within or outside the limit?
• Does the policy cover third parties?

If you don’t have the right coverage, you could be faced with handling ADA-related lawsuits entirely out of your own pocket!

Help Is Out There

Fortunately, there are professionals who help self-storage owners address the issue of ADA compliance. Loss-control firms will visit sites and offer recommendations. Evaluations are performed by professional engineers who will:

• Interview principal contacts
• Verify jurisdictional requirements, which depend on property construction date, modification date, and local authorities or other governmental bodies that have dominion in the area
• Inspect the facility, including entrances, individual structures, offices, storage spaces, workspaces, restrooms and appurtenances (drinking fountains, public telephones, etc.)
• Interview property principals to ensure all uncertainties are clarified
• Provide an oral report, with findings related to ADA compliance and general safety, plus recommended corrective actions
• Issue a written report

Safety and compliance management should be an important issue for all self-storage operators. If you don’t feel you can interpret the ADA laws yourself, connect with a trained, professional team that can help you navigate these murky waters.

Jenny Bortman is vice president at Universal Insurance Programs, which has created and provided specialized insurance coverages to the self-storage industry for more than 20 years. For more information, call 602.222.8300; visit https://uiprograms.com.

 

The Middleburg Heights, Ohio, City Council has enacted a six-month moratorium on new self-storage development. The Oct. 13 unanimous vote means the city won’t accept or process applications for new storage projects, according to the source.

“We are in the middle of doing two sizable projects,” said Mayor Matt Castelli. “We are undergoing a comprehensive master plan [review] for the city of Middleburg Heights as well as a zoning code rewrite update. I think it is prudent for the city to put any storage facilities applications in a temporary moratorium until we complete those two projects.”

Castelli called for a new comprehensive master plan a year ago, predicting it could take up to two years to complete. The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission awarded the city an $80,000 grant and provided two project managers to help create the new plan, which hadn’t been updated since 1970.

Rewriting the zoning code could take up to a year, the source reported. The city hired Jay Stewart, an attorney with Stewart Land Use, to help revise the ordinance, which was established in 1972. Self-storage is currently defined as “any premises which is designed and used for bulk storage for cars, recreational vehicles, boats, and/or motorcycles; or self-service storage facilities.”

Source:
Cleveland.com, Middleburg Heights Institutes Freeze on New Storage Facilities

 

CubeSmart, a publicly traded self-storage real estate investment trust and management company, has been recognized as a “Champion of Board Diversity” for the fifth time by the Forum of Executive Women (FOEW), a membership organization comprised of more than 450 female executives in Greater Philadelphia. The award honors companies in the area whose corporate boards are composed of at least 30 percent women, according to a press release.

“We believe our business is better because of the diversity of participation, thought and action that comes from the unique individuals who work with us, starting with our board and carrying through to every CubeSmart teammate,” said Christopher P. Marr, president and CEO of CubeSmart. “It’s an honor to be recognized for the gender diversity at our board level. We take great pride in embracing both what makes us different as well as the qualities that we collectively share as a CubeSmart team.”

CubeSmart and other honorees were featured in the FOEW annual report, “Women in Leadership,” which tracks the progress of women leaders in Philadelphia. Women hold more than 20 percent of board seats in the region. In all, 17 companies were recognized by the organization for board diversity, the release stated.

Based in Malvern, Pa., CubeSmart owns or manages 1,257 self-storage facilities across the United States. Its operating portfolio comprises 85 million square feet.

Founded in 1977, FOEW is comprised of individuals holding senior-most positions in corporations, not-for-profit organizations and public-sector entities in Greater Philadelphia, according to its website.

Source:
CubeSmart, CubeSmart Recognized as Champion of Board Diversity by Forum of Executive Women

 

Pinnacle Storage Properties, a Houston-based firm that operates 21 self-storage facilities under various names, has hired Bruno Marquez as financial and operational analyst. He’ll oversee the financial well-being of the 25 properties currently owned by the company and underwrite any new acquisitions. He’ll oversee the building and maintenance of controller-focused cash management, bank reporting and limited-partnership investor-management models. He’ll also track the performance of the company’s assets and drive financial proficiency, according to a press release.

Marquez has experience in financial modeling and data analysis from working with international organizations. While with Fluor Brasil Ltda., he oversaw project-document and data management as well as technical translation in Portuguese, English and Spanish. “I am excited to join the Pinnacle team and look forward to building upon their effective strategies and business momentum,” he said.

“Bruno’s knowledge and attention to detail will be beneficial to Pinnacle as we continue to grow,” said John Manes, CEO and partner. “We are thrilled to have him join our team.”

Marquez holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, with minors in applied computing and global engagement, from the University of Washington-Tacoma, where he published a thesis on financial technology.

Pinnacle is a privately held real estate owner/operator focused on the acquisition, development and management of self-storage assets. Its investment strategy is to purchase under-leveraged properties in suburban and secondary markets. Its portfolio comprises about 1.2 million rentable square feet.
 

As self-storage operators, we’re supporting a lot of vital industries during this coronavirus pandemic, including healthcare professionals, businesses that stock personal protection equipment (PPE) and other important supplies, fire and police departments, nonprofits, plumbers, and electricians. But keeping our doors open means we have to develop new best practices for site sanitation. To keep everyone safe and ensure customers feel comfortable visiting our properties, we have to keep everything clean.

But what exactly does that mean in this new era? Our customers have always expected our facilities to be tidy, but now there’s a heightened expectation regarding things people can’t see. We’re dealing with an invisible enemy, which is different from the dusty bunnies and spiderwebs we regularly chase with our dusters and brooms. Certainly, there’s much more emphasis now on sanitizing commonly touched surfaces like keypads, door handles, credit card machines, moving carts and elevator buttons.

We need to show customers that we’re doing the disinfecting and extra cleaning. They want to see bottles of cleaner, hand sanitizer on the counter, or an employee donned in PPE to assure them we’re taking official recommendations seriously.

Best Practices and Timelines

Ramping up your cleaning efforts is a minimum expectation for operating a self-storage facility during this crisis. If you haven’t already established an enhanced cleaning protocol, below are some measures you should take in addition to your usual daily maintenance routine.

Surfaces that are regularly touched by employees and customers require the most attention. Whenever possible, they should be disinfected after each use. While cleaning wipes might be a convenient solution, they often aren’t the most practical. Instead, a spray disinfectant allows you to dispense a small, appropriate amount each time. We ask our employees to regularly wipe the following:

• The sales counter, including pens, mats, computers, tablets, etc.
• Debit and credit card machines
• Door handles, inside and out
• The washroom, including the door handle, faucet handle, paper-towel dispenser, toilet flusher and seat
• Access keypads
• Elevator buttons
• Moving carts (specifically the handles)
• Any additional surface that receives customer contact

At a minimum, you want to clean all these at the start of the business day, after lunch, at the close of business, after each customer use (when possible), and as necessary throughout the day. You definitely want to increase your efforts during high-traffic times.

Here are a few additional sanitation tips:

• When you need to clean a delicate surface like a keypad touchpad, don’t spray cleaner directly onto the device, which could damage it. Instead, dampen a rag with cleaner and wipe carefully.
• Send regular communication to staff of your expectations and remind them of easy-to-miss cleaning tasks. Commonly touched surfaces outside the office can be easier to forget than those immediately nearby.
• Provide easy access to hand sanitizer or cleaner for customers. This is a great way to give them peace of mind.

The Role of PPE

As we learn more about the transmission of COVID-19, PPE use has greatly expanded. Masks are now commonplace and increasingly required in many public places. Having a supply on hand for employees and even customers has become standard. Gloves are great, too, but unless you’re throwing them away after each use, they aren’t effective.

In our offices, we’ve adopted the use of plexiglass shields. Even though self-storage is a relatively low-volume business when compared with many retailers, these shields are an easy, inexpensive way to create a safety barrier between employees and customers, benefitting both. If you have a customer who refuses to, or can’t, wear a mask, this provides an added level of protection your staff will appreciate.

Products and Supplies

In the beginning, many of us scrambled to ensure we had the cleaning products we needed. With that in mind, we should now be cognizant of the supplies, suppliers and price points we like and make the conscious decision to stock up. That way, if there’s another “rush,” we’ll have our preferred—and most cost-efficient—supplies on hand to navigate the situation.

Luckily, even at the height of cleaning-product shortages, spray cleaner was something self-storage operators already had for normal routines. Many of these cleaners were already identified as being effective in killing other coronaviruses, making them a good option for disinfecting our stores. When in doubt, check the product labels. If you have a regular supplier, it should be able to recommend cleaners sufficient for whole-property disinfection.

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is critical in the fight against germs, bacteria and viruses. Keep these pointers in mind:

• Washing: It’s now commonly known that regular hand soap is effective against the coronavirus when hands are washed for 20 seconds or longer.
• Sanitizing: Any hand sanitizer should be at least 60 percent alcohol. Recently, there’s been a recall on a few brands containing methanol, which is potentially harmful. Be on the lookout for this, especially when it comes to unfamiliar brands.

A quick tip: Local breweries and distilleries can be an unexpected resource for hygiene products, as many have converted some production to making hand sanitizers to support local businesses.

Staff Guidance

As things seem to change daily and we’re constantly adapting to new recommendations, staff training is always a good idea. Clear guidance and expectations are key, especially as regulatory orders are updated, to ensure we’re compliant.

It isn’t enough to say, “We need to clean more often” or “We should wipe down commonly used surfaces.” That leaves too much to individual interpretation. Rather, give specific examples and guidelines, and ask that staff clean anything they notice needing it during the day. Open communication is key, so consistently discuss new information among locations and employees. Ask questions and be prepared with answers.

Hiring Outside Help

If your facility experiences an active exposure to COVID-19, consider hiring trained professionals to disinfect and clean the site. Even if you’ve had no known exposure, consider hiring an outside firm for monthly or weekly cleaning. This can be a real selling point for your customers. It’ll also reassure your employees that you’re taking an extra step to ensure their safety.

Necessity is the mother of invention. While we’ve all been challenged in 2020, we’ve also found new practices and efficiencies that’ll be with us forever, from streamlining rentals to increasing the number of customers on electronic payments, to using an online customer portal to provide better service. Some cleaning procedures will fall into this category, too. We’re collectively more aware of the people and surfaces around us, and I anticipate that these expectations will stay with us long after this pandemic has subsided.

Garrett Harrington is managing director of communications and training for StorageMart. He directs the company’s communication and training efforts throughout Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. He was named a 2019 “Emerging Training Leader” by “Training Magazine,” and StorageMart was recognized by the same publication as one of top 125 global training companies, the first such honor for any self-storage organization. For more information, call 855.385.7876; email [email protected]; visit www.storage-mart.com.

Update 10/23/20 – 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 October 2020.

Beyond Self Storage (BSS), which operates 27 locations in 11 states, plans to tear down the former Bradenton Health and Racquet Club building in Bradenton, Fla., and build a self-storage facility in its place. The operator purchased the property at 6500 Manatee Ave. W. in August for $655,000. It’ll be the company’s first location in the city and third in the state. BSS is the operating brand for NorthPoint Development, a development, management and leasing firm that’s principally focused on the industrial, multi-family, senior-living and self-storage markets in the Central United States.

Burlington Self-Storage, which operates seven facilities in three states, opened a new location in Lake Worth, Fla. The 4.5-acre property at 4859 Lantana Road houses a three-story, 146,000-square-foot facility with more than 930 units. Founded in 1990, Burlington operates three facilities in Florida, and two each in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It offers drive-in buildings, climate-controlled units and vehicle-storage spaces.

Cedarwood Development, an affiliate of Cedarwood Cos., completed construction of a new facility in Clearwater, Fla., just south of downtown. The property at 1000 S. Myrtle Ave. comprises 60,000 square feet in 585 units. Cedarwood acquired the 3-arce parcel in 2019 for $1.8 million. It’ll be managed by US Storage Centers, the operating brand for Westport Properties Inc., an owner/operator with more than 10 million rentable square feet in its portfolio. Founded in 1972 and based in Fairlawn, Ohio, Cedarwood has developed commercial and retail projects nationwide. Services include build-to-suit projects, office buildings, shopping centers, multi-family communities, resort hotels, senior-living communities and self-storage.

Real estate development firm Cogent Capital Group completed construction on North Arlington Self Storage in North Arlington, N.J. The five-story facility at 450 Belleville Turnpike comprises 100,665 square feet. It includes an interior drive aisle as well as detached, single-story, garage-style units. The property will be managed by self-storage REIT Extra Space Storage Inc. Architectural and construction services were provided by ARCO/Murray Design Build, a national general contractor with more than 25 years of experience.

Cogent is also developing a self-storage facility on behalf of Chicago-based Syndicated Equities Group near the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. The $4 million project will comprise 131,261 square feet in 1,074 units. The project is expected to be complete in about a year. Based in Chicago, Cogent has developed more than 25 self-storage facilities in the last eight years.

Self-storage REIT and third-party management firm CubeSmart received permission to build a new facility in Allentown, Pa. The operator plans to demolish an existing building at 1384 S. Fifth St. and develop a pair of single-story structures. Three new stories will be added to a second existing building. Although the two parcels will be consolidated into one 5-acre site, the development will only span 1.7 acres, according to Irene Woodward, the city’s planning and zoning director. Once complete, the location will offer 534 storage units. CubeSmart owns or manages 1,266 self-storage facilities across the United States. Its operating portfolio comprises 85 million square feet.

Indianapolis-based Douglas Realty Group, which is developing a 60-acre mixed-use project in Franklin Township, N.J., received approval to include a 100,000-square-foot self-storage facility. Johnson Fields on the northwest corner of Franklin and Southport Roads will also contain senior housing and medical offices. Douglas, which owns the land, is seeking a national self-storage company to oversee the storage component, said Doug McAuley, principal. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

A joint venture between real estate developers First Columbia LLC and Hampstead America LLC will convert three adjacent buildings in Troy, N.Y., to self-storage. The structures at 494, 498 and 500 River St. were originally part of a Fitzgerald Brewery bottling plant. The property is across from First Columbia’s Hedley Park Place and a Marriott Courtyard hotel jointly owned by both development firms. The final facility will comprise about 100,000 square feet in 1,000 units and be managed by Life Storage. First Columbia is a diversified real estate and investment firm specializing in corporate, high-tech, hospitality, medical, office and senior-housing properties.

Next Door Self-Storage, which operates 17 facilities in Illinois, is seeking approval to convert the former Kmart store at Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue in Joliet, Ill., to a mixed-use property that’ll include storage, a grocer, retail and a restaurant. Plans call for nearly 62,000 square feet of the 97,000-square-foot building to be converted and expanded into a two-story facility comprising 144,000 square feet in 800-plus units. Another 21,000 square feet of storage in 66 units would be developed on the parking lot of the 10.6-acre parcel. Approximately 35,000 square feet would be designated for retail. That could change if the developer attracts a grocer, said Michael Hansen, the attorney representing Next Door.

Safe Affordable Storage LLC opened Posen Storage in Posen, Ill. The newly constructed facility at 14750 S. Western Ave. comprises 60,080 rentable square feet in 542 units. The property is near multi-family apartments and a senior-housing facility. It’ll be managed by Absolute Storage Management (ASM), a third-party management company. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., ASM operates more than 100 properties in 13 states.

StoreEase, a self-storage operator that also provides a virtual third-party management platform, opened a new location in Cleveland. Like other facilities in its portfolio, the site at 3005 Chester Ave. is managed virtually. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., StoreEase acquires, develops and oversees 15 self-storage facilities in Alabama and Ohio. It’s also building new projects in the Southeast.

Store Here Management LLC, the division of RHW Capital Management Group LLC that operates the Store Here Self Storage brand, opened a new facility in Racine, Wis. Converted from an industrial building, the single-story structure at 1220 Mound Ave. comprises 150,000 net rentable square feet. Founded in 2012 by self-storage veterans with more than 70 years of combined experience, RHW owns or manages 28 self-storage facilities in 13 states. Its operating portfolio comprises more than 2 million net rentable square feet. Store Here operates facilities across 11 states.

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10/8/20 – 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 October 2020.

Arizona Self-Storage will build its second Tucson Self-Storage location at Craycroft and River Roads in Tucson, Ariz. The developer recently secured an $8.5 million construction loan from Integrity Capital LLC.

U.K. self-storage operator Big Yellow Group PLC received planning approval to develop a 106,000-square-foot facility in the Kings Cross area of London. Site work is expected to begin in January, with the project scheduled to be complete by spring 2023. Big Yellow Group operates 101 self-storage locations in the United Kingdom under the Big Yellow Self Storage and Armadillo Self Storage brand names, with most concentrated in Greater London and Southeast England. Its total portfolio comprises 5.8 million square feet.

Real estate developer Jim Calvary received plan approval from Jeffersonville, Ind., officials for a self-storage facility he intends to build at 1027 E. 10th St., behind a Kroger grocery store. The structure will comprise 710 units, with an architectural design to match surrounding buildings.

Equator Capital Management LLC, a New York-based private-equity group, completed construction on a self-storage facility in Staten Island, N.Y. The site at 22 Zebra Place comprises 104,131 square feet. It’s managed by real estate investment trust (REIT) Life Storage Inc. Founded by Mehul B. Patel in 2008, Equator invests in a range of real estate classes, acquiring, developing and repositioning properties in various industries, including self-storage. It works with institutional partners, private investors and joint-venture partners.

Hills Building Group Ltd., which specializes in commercial and residential property development in the United Kingdom, is expanding its Hills Self Storage property at the Brook Street Business Centre in Colchester, England. The company converted the former East of England Co-Op furniture warehouse last year to offer 50,000 square feet of storage space. The expansion project includes converting the structure’s basement to self-storage and adding storage containers to the site. Some containers will include glass doors and windows for customers interested in creating “pop-up shops” onsite. Hills also intends to offer valet-style pickup and delivery services.

In Self Storage Management LLC will convert a former Toys R Us store in Colorado Springs, Colo. Built on 3 acres in a Qualified Opportunity Zone, the freestanding building at 3730 N. Citadel Drive comprises 47,125 square feet. The development is part of a larger retail initiative intended to revitalize the southwest corner of Galley Road and N. Academy Boulevard. In Self Storage operates 20 facilities in seven states.

Life Storage received permission to expand its facility in Woodstock, Ga. The building at 42 Sycamore Lane comprises 104,000 square feet. The REIT plans to add a second structure containing 43,200 square feet of indoor self-storage and 12 outdoor vehicle-parking spaces. The new building will match the first, and a chain-link fence will be installed around the parking spaces, with landscaping to provide screening.

JPN Self-Storage opened in Grasonville, Md. Owner Gurjit Nijjar named the facility using the initials of his two-year-old daughter, Joban. The facility at 107 Hissey Road is open 24 hours a day. A Sept. 19 ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Nijjar family members, friends and business associates.

NitNeil Partners, an Atlanta-based investment firm specializing in self-storage, intends to develop a new facility on a 1.8-acre parcel it purchased in Smyrna, Tenn. The site at 851 Isabella Lane is expected to comprise 63,185 square feet in 591 units. The property is between a Publix and Home Depot retail outlets. The site was acquired on Oct. 2 from Smyrna Storage LLC in a deal brokered by the Self Storage Group of Colliers International. NitNeil owns 23 self-storage facilities in 10 states comprising 1.4 million net rentable square feet.

Ocean Storage, which operates five locations in Virginia, opened a newly constructed facility in Chesapeake. The multi-level structure at 31 Volvo Parkway offers indoor, climate-controlled units. It’ll be managed by Storage Asset Management (SAM), a property-management and consulting firm founded in 2010 and based in York, Pa. SAM oversees more than 220 storage facilities operating under 60-plus brands. Ocean operates two facilities in Chesapeake, two in Virginia Beach, and one each in Cape Charles, Norfolk and Yorktown, Va.

Patagon Ventures LLC, a national self-storage developer and owner based in Park City, Utah., has completed a new development in Portland, Ore. The three-story building at 150 Riverside St. comprises 101,979 square feet in 842 units and has 25 uncovered vehicle-parking spaces. Boardwalk Storage Solutions was the contractor, with Di’velept Architecture + Design providing the design. It’ll be managed by Life Storage and branded under its name. Patagon developed and owns 14 self-storage facilities in five states and has an additional five storage projects underway.

Safestore received approval last month to build a facility in Macomb, Mich. The multi-story building will be in the Elite Business Park, a seven-lot parcel that’s south of 23 Mile Road and west of Romeo Plank Road.

Savannah Ventures LLC received approval to develop a single-story 1st State Self Storage facility in Milford, Del. Though the site along U.S. Route 113 is zoned commercial, the project required a conditional-use permit because it’ll include a manager’s residence. Officials limited the project to one story and requested special conditions related to lighting and perimeter fencing, as well as a 15-foot tree buffer between the property line and a neighboring residence.

SecureSpace Self Storage opened a new location in Kearny, N.J. The facility at 8 Breiderhoft Road comprises 113,000 square feet. Parent company InSite Property Group acquired the parcel in 2018. Based in Redondo Beach, Calif., SecureSpace operates four facilities in California, Florida and New Jersey, with three projects under development in those states. InSite is a developer, builder and operator of self-storage, with more than 20 facilities under development.

Shurgard Self Storage Europe SARL, the European affiliate of U.S.-based REIT Public Storage Inc., is building a new location in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, after a January fire destroyed another facility it operated in the city. Expected to open next year, the multi-story structure will comprise 43,055 square feet in more than 850 units.

Shurgard also opened a new facility in Croydon, a town in South London. The four-story facility at 78 Purley Way comprises 70,000 square feet in 1,200 units. The company operates 242 self-storage properties comprising 1.2 million net rentable square meters in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Storage Sense will expand a newly acquired property in Fort Myers, Fla. Built in 1997 at 15801 Hart Road, the facility comprises 47,450 square feet in 448 units. The expansion will add 10,000 square feet of rental space in 105 climate-controlled units. The site has had multiple renovations in its history, most recently in 2006. Storage Sense operates more than 100 self-storage facilities in 23 states.

Stor-N-Lock, which operates 22 facilities in California, Colorado, Idaho and Utah, is seeking approval to build a new location in Boise, Idaho. Designed by Hatch Design Architects, the single-story facility at 5926 S. Federal Way would contain 68,576 square feet.

The William Warren Group (WWG), a privately held real estate company that operates the StorQuest Self Storage brand, opened a new location in Bothell, Wash. The facility at 21008 Bothell Everett Highway is near the Thrasher’s Corner neighborhood. Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Monica, Calif., WWG acquires, develops and operates more than 165 self-storage facilities in 14 states.

White Hickory Associates, a related entity of development firm Robert Martin Co. LLC, received approval to build a self-storage facility within the Premier Plaza Shopping Center in Tarrytown, N.Y. Plans for 630 White Plains Road include a 56,525-square-foot building containing 292 units.

New Sources:
Albany Business Review, First Columbia to Renovate River Street Property into Self-Storage Facility
Benzinga, Store Here Self Storage Announces New Facility in Racine Wisconsin 
Bradenton Herald, Another Self Storage Company to Build in Bradenton
Commercial Property Executive, Cedarwood Cos. Debuts 1st Clearwater Storage Property
First Columbia, Historic Troy Beer Bottling Plant to be Rehabbed
IBJ, Franklin Township Retail Project Picking Up Steam, Adding Self-Storage and Medical Space
RE Journals, Syndicated Equities Invests $4 Million in Development of Self-Storage Facility in Minneapolis
The Herald News, Kmart Redevelopment Plan Would Bring Min-Warehouses to Joliet's Busiest Intersection
WFMZ, Allentown Planners OK South Fifth Street Self-Storage Development

Previous Sources:
Mile High, Former Toys R Us Building in Colorado Springs to be Converted to Self-Storage
The Gazette, Toys R Us Building in Colorado Springs to Undergo Makeover
Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News, Woodstock Approves Permit for Self-Storage Expansion
Bay Times and Record Observer, JPN Self-Storage in Grasonville
C&G, Plan Approved for Self-Storage Facility
Idaho Statesman, Storage Business
Westchester and Fairfield County Business Journals, Self-Storage Building Approved at Premier Plaza
Colorado Real Estate Journal, Former Toys R Us Bldg. Sells for Conversion to Mini Storage
Daily Gazette, Hills Self Storage in Colchester Begins Latest Expansion Plans
Newswire, SecureSpace Self Storage Announces the Grand Opening of a New Self Storage Facility in Kearny, New Jersey
Milford Live, Storage Facility Approved for Route 113
Morningstar, Big Yellow Gets Planning Consent for Kings Cross Store in London
News and Tribune, Plans for Senior Living Apartments, Storage Facility Approved for 10th Street