San Diego Self Storage (SDSS) has reported the results of its 2015 Community Pride project, which it launched at its 17 facilities in San Diego County earlier this year. Each property was given $500 to donate to a charitable cause chosen by the facility’s staff.

“We love being part of the San Diego community,” said J. Terry Aston, managing partner. “San Diegans have supported our business, and we want to make sure we’re giving back to our local communities, supporting worthwhile causes and organizations that positively impact San Diego. It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to everyone in this city, which has supported our business so much.”

Employees were allowed to choose one charity or divide the funds across multiple organizations, according to a company press release. “We chose the San Diego Humane Society because we love our pets and want to help less fortunate animals that are suffering. We believe that all animals deserve a chance at a good life,” said Steve and Tally, managers of Poway Road Mini Storage in Poway, Calif.

Otay Mesa Self Storage in San Diego donated the $500 to Child Development Associates, which offers three state-subsidized, full-day preschool centers in southern San Diego County. “This was a warm-feeling experience to know this check will bring many smiles and opportunities to low-income kids in our community,” said Zee Balata, manager of Otay Mesa. “The site supervisor, Armida Carbajal, was very honored and excited to receive our donation. She showed me around the center and pointed out the many benefits their children get. The kids were so happy and excited as well. Their expressions of thanks as I walked out of their classroom was powerful and touching.”

Programs that benefited animals and kids seemed to be popular for most SDSS teams, according to Kraig Haviland, director of operations. Additional organizations that benefited include 2nd Chance Dog Rescue, Conner’s Cause for Children, Helen Woodward Animal Center, Integrity Charter School, Mira Mesa Senior High School, San Ysidro Recreation Council, South Bay Family YMCA and Villa Musica. Some SDSS locations have yet to make their donation.

The project has lifted spirits in the SSDS facility offices and created unique bonds among team members as some had personal connections to local charities, the release stated. “We are an organization of compassionate people who care about our community, and we hope to continue to make a positive impact in San Diego. Our charitable project works to involve our employees, to stress the value of remaining an active participant in the community,” Haviland said.

SDSS is involved in the community in other ways as well. This year marks the 18th year it has supported the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The company regularly supports other organizations including AJ’s Kids Crane, Kure It Cancer Research and Del Mar-Solana Beach Sunrise Rotary Club.

“I am proud to work with a company that values philanthropy, which empowers employees to make meaningful contributions to their community,” Haviland said. “The SDSS 2015 Community Project has been beneficial for so many organizations, but we also feel incredibly grateful we can provide this experience to our staff. We aim to develop our employees professionally and personally.”

Founded in 1972, SSDS has a network of self-storage facilities in San Diego County and additional facilities in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The company is locally owned and operated.

 

StorQuest Self Storage, the operating brand for the William Warren Group (WWG), a privately held real estate company, was recently named “Best New Business” and “Best Place to Work” in Chandler, Ariz., by “GetOut,” a special publication by the “East Valley Tribune” newspaper. First-, second- and third-place winners were determined via a three-week online poll that asks residents to choose their favorite businesses, people, places and restaurants.

StorQuest opened its Chandler property at 2150 N. Arizona Ave. last spring. It offers 783 climate-controlled units, including 20 that offer drive-up access, and a business center. Plans to add boat and RV storage are underway, according to a company press release.

“Our experienced staff has one goal, and that is to ensure that we go above and beyond to make it easy for our customers,” said Shawna Morris, manager of the Chandler property. “The employees at StorQuest will take the time to assess a customer's situation to determine what type of storage unit is right for their needs.”

“GetOut,” which focuses on events and things to do in the community, also conducts polls for Gilbert and Mesa, Ariz.

Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Monica, Calif., WWG acquires, develops and operates more than 100 self-storage facilities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina and Texas.

By Stephanie Tharpe

Tenant insurance has become a hot topic in the self-storage industry. The practice of operators offering coverage to tenants has become so commonplace that some customers who inquire about our rental rates want to know if our prices include insurance. Most of the industry real estate investment trusts now require customers to have coverage, and several operators I’ve spoken to also require tenants to protect their goods.

It’s important for facility managers to understand how tenant insurance protects customers as well as how it can benefit his business. First, take a close look at your rental agreement to ensure it specifies your facility isn’t responsible for damage to customer goods. Common language typically reads something like, “The owner and the owner's employees and agents shall not be responsible or liable for … including but not limited to, theft, mysterious disappearance, vandalism, fire, smoke, water, flood, hurricanes, rain, tornadoes, explosions, rodents, insects, acts of God, or the active or passive acts or omissions or negligence of the owner, the owner's agents or employees.” That sounds all well and good, but let’s face it: We can’t always write ourselves out of liability.

At my company, we’ve offered tenant insurance to customers for nearly two years, and the results have been amazing. While the claims have been few, those that were filed were handled quickly and to the satisfaction of tenants. Let’s take a closer look at how offering a program can be beneficial to customers and your business, as well as how to stimulate buy-in.

Primary Benefits

If an unfortunate loss occurs, I want my tenants to have quick access to financial compensation. Even though our lease states we’re not responsible for damage to tenant property, this won’t stop disgruntled tenants from taking us to court if an incident occurs and they aren’t insured. What if the facility catches fire or is wiped out by a storm, or a truck smashes into a building? Facility managers often become friendly with customers, and naturally, tenants will want you to do something when there’s damage to personal property. Tenant insurance removes the responsibility from managers to “fix it.”

Offering tenant insurance also provides your owner with an extra wall of protection. Whether there’s one claim or 20 after an unfortunate incident, he won’t have to reach into his pocket to compensate impacted tenants as a "good will" move. I know of several occasions in which owners have written checks just to keep a customer satisfied.

Finally, the revenue that can be generated from tenant insurance is all found money, meaning the absence of a program is a lost opportunity. When properly implemented, a program usually generates more revenue than truck rentals or the sale of boxes, locks and packing supplies. If you manage a facility with 400 units and 85 percent physical occupancy, you could expect to have 60 percent of your tenants insured within five months. That level of buy-in equals $735 per month to the facility and an increase in property value of $126,000 based on a 7 percent capitalization rate.

In 2015, our seven Nashville, Tenn., locations tallied $186,000 in insurance sales. Our lowest performing store produced $19,000, while our highest produced $41,000. These are significant numbers you can use if trying to convince your owner to bring on a plan.

Choosing a Plan

There are different types of tenant insurance and tenant-protection programs from which to choose. If you’re tasked with shopping for plans, check your state statute to see what laws apply. Some states require a limited license to sell insurance. Thoroughly compare each plan, and then make an educated decision on the criteria that work best for you and the business. Some key questions to ask include:

• What training will be provided?
• What marketing tools will be provided?
• Who will answer my questions if my customers or I need support?
• How much time will I have to spend on a claim?
• Who will assist me in reaching out to my existing tenant base?
• What will be the out-of-pocket cost to enroll current tenants?

Answers to these questions were determining factors when my company chose its provider.

As a manager, your buy-in and knowledge of the plan will go a long way in determining the success of the program. When we first decided to offer tenant insurance, we scheduled intensive training for our managers that lasted about two hours. It’s best to know why you’re offering a plan, how it protects customers and how it will help make your job easier. Make sure the provider you choose offers thorough training.

Selling the Plan to New Tenants

It’s typically best to broach the subject of tenant insurance when discussing the rental agreement during move-in. Customers need to understand their insurance responsibility and that the facility’s liability policy doesn’t cover damage to tenant belongings.

There are several ways you can offer the plan. My managers love being able to take care of clients simply by giving them an insurance-company brochure with an 800 number to call. You can also direct them to the provider’s website. In addition, one of the most effective selling tools is offering the convenience of a pay-with-rent program.

Chances are the self-storage management software you’re using has a built-in insurance module that’s integrated with several tenant-insurance programs. This feature enables you to make paying for insurance an easy and automatic process for the customer. A pay-with-rent program builds the payment into the rental rate, making it a seamless process and eliminating worries about separate billing.

Our results have been astonishing. Currently, our managers enroll an average of eight out of every 10 new tenants by assuming the sale. When you have these results across the board, the time it takes to enroll each tenant becomes irrelevant. For us, it takes less than a minute! Once you’re educated about the program and understand all of its benefits, offering tenant insurance will become as natural as asking for a driver’s license.

Marketing to Existing Tenants

Once a tenant-insurance plan is in action, you’ll want to offer it to your existing clientele. We reached out to current tenants through a letter campaign and tracked our results. We chose not to make our program mandatory. During a six-month period, we enrolled approximately 50 percent.

In communicating how the plan works, specify any features that may entice buy-in. For example, our program has a $0 deductible if the tenant secures his unit with a cylinder or disc lock. If he uses another type of lock, the deductible is still affordable at $100. The cost to tenants is very inexpensive, and you can make it easy on them with a pay-with-rent plan.

You really have nothing to lose by offering tenant insurance. As someone responsible for multiple self-storage properties, I receive all of the crazy phone calls from angry tenants who want compensation because they believe we’re responsible for everything that may impact their belongings. Even though it’s explained otherwise in their signed lease, they often have selective hearing and seldom actually read their rental agreement. I’ve had several conversations with customers who didn’t understand their responsibilities.

Anything can happen. If you’re not already offering tenant insurance to customers, I encourage you to look into the options. If your state allows you to sell a plan, make a recommendation to your owner. It’s a great barrier of protection for tenants and the business, and can significantly add value to the property you manage.

Stephanie Tharpe, who has worked in the self-storage industry for 17 years, is senior vice president of operations and marketing for A+ Storage of Tennessee LLC, where she oversees a portfolio of seven facilities in Nashville. She was named Manager of the Year by the Tennessee Self Storage Association in 2012 and presently serves on its Events and Education Committee. She’s also a moderator on the SelfStorageTalk.com online community and has been a featured speaker at Inside Self-Storage World Expo and other industry events. For more information visit www.aplustorage.com.

Update 11/4/15 – After a year of deliberation and public opposition, the Buffalo Planning Board has approved the Dash’s Markets self-storage conversion project on Kenmore Avenue. Common council member Rasheed Wyatt threw his support behind the project after Joe Dash and his attorney met with the local neighborhood group to answer questions and resolve concerns, according to the source.

“We’ve had so many meetings on this, I’m meeting-ed out,” Wyatt said. “We’ve done all we can do on this project. It’s not the grocery store they wanted, but it’s a good project.”

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9/23/15 – The Buffalo Planning Board has postponed its vote on the Dash’s Markets self-storage conversion project while it awaits the conclusion of an Erie County review and another neighborhood meeting regarding the proposal, according to the source. The board is now scheduled to vote on the Kenmore Avenue project on Oct. 6.

The $2 million project would convert the 53,000-square-foot former grocery store into self-storage and add a 26,000-square-foot second story, the source reported.

Joe Dash indicated further delays on the project are costly. “Every month I am looking at $25,000 to $30,000 in carrying costs,” Dash said.

Some University Heights residents are still lamenting the loss of their neighborhood market, but Dash’s is determined to see the self-storage project through. “Joe Dash has gone the extra mile,” Palumbo told the source, referring to project alterations made to quell community concerns. “The issue seems to be the use of the building. This is not going to be a food store. We’re beyond that.”

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9/14/15 – Representatives from Dash’s Markets are expected to present the revised plan for the company’s self-storage conversion project on Kenmore Avenue to the Buffalo Planning Board. The board will consider a site plan review on Sept. 22, according to the source.

There is speculation the project could be branded as Uncle Bob’s Self Storage, the trade name operated by real estate investment trust (REIT) Sovran Self Storage Inc., the source reported. The REIT operates more than 500 facilities in 25 states.

The revised plan, which restricts storage units to the interior of the building, is expected to generate much more residential support than the original design, according to the source.

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6/2/15 – The Buffalo Zoning Board reversed course last week and approved a zoning variance allowing Joe Dash to convert the former grocery store on Kenmore Avenue into self-storage. Board members changed their mind after reviewing a revised design for the project, which still must be approved by the planning board, according to the source.

The new design features more brick on the building and added green space to serve as a buffer between the structure and the street, which will help the facility blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, Palumbo told city officials. “Brick columns run the entire length of the Kenmore Avenue frontage. We’ve added extensive buffering to the site,” he said. “We believe we have blended the building into the neighborhood. It’s a building that is far better than was presented in the first instance.”

The zoning board also approved a six-foot fence that will run along Kenmore Avenue. Three acres of the current parking lot will be set aside for a future mixed-use development, the source reported.

“We’ve done everything in our power to redevelop the property to be the best-looking piece of real estate on all of Kenmore Avenue,” Dash told the source.

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4/24/15 – The Buffalo Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously rejected the Dash’s Markets proposal to convert one of its former grocery stores into self-storage. Board members voted 3-0 against the plan in an effort to preserve the retail-commercial environment in that portion of the neighborhood, according to the source.

The board ultimately sided with residents who opposed the plan, despite a reversal by the University Heights Collaborative (UHC), a neighborhood group which initially held strong opposition to the conversion. UHC recently voted to support the project after Dash’s owner Joe Dash agreed to restrict the self-storage operation to the interior of the existing building. A decision on the outdoor space would have been made at a later date, the source reported.

“The applicant worked closely with the community to create a development plan responsive to community concerns,” said Corey A. Auerbach, an attorney representing Dash’s. “The applicant remains committed to bringing a productive redevelopment to the site and will work with the community and the city.”

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4/20/15 – The Buffalo Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday will discuss the rezoning request submitted by Dash’s Markets to convert its closed grocery store on Kenmore Avenue into self-storage.

Dash’s purchased the former Budwey’s Market last year, operating it under the Dash’s brand for just a few months before opting to close it. The self-storage project has stirred controversy among residents who would prefer Dash’s re-open the building as a supermarket or sell it to another grocery retailer.

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2/26/15 – Public opposition to the proposed self-storage development by Dash’s Markets continued to mount during the first formal hearing on the matter held by the Buffalo Common Council.

One resident called the project “an abomination,” while neighbor Joe Schmidbauer characterized self-storage as a free-for-all with little supervision over stored contents. “Storage facilities are not these kind of clean operations where people come and store their furniture,” he said. “It becomes a kind of a ‘free fire zone’ because there is no real clear supervision at what goes into those storages.”

Corey Auerbach, an attorney representing Dash’s, argued the company’s redevelopment proposal was a viable option and “more beneficial than a vacant property.”

Rosline Righetti, vice president of the Merrimac Street Block Club, a neighborhood group, said she had spoken to business owners interested in turning the Dash’s parcel into a retail strip mall. However, attorney Jeffrey Palumbo, representing Dash’s owner Joe Dash, said there isn’t enough interest for other business options.

After the hearing, Palumbo indicated Dash would pursue his rezoning application to change the use of the property to allow self-storage, according to the source.

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2/16/2015 – The proposed self-storage development continues to face opposition from residents and may need a zoning variance to be built. The University Heights Collaborative (UHC), held a meeting on Feb. 10 to allow residents to discuss alternatives for the site. The organization is also acting as a facilitator for a petition that’s being circulated against the self-storage development. UHC has said it’s not taking a side on the issue, the source reported.

Residents are concerned the storage facility will attract crime and detract from other businesses in the area, according to the source.

“There is urban decay along Kenmore and Englewood—a storage facility would not improve that area,” Joe Schmidbauer, a UHC member, told the source. “Storage facilities can become a place for black-market transactions or a drop site.”

Community members who attended the meeting this week offered alternative uses for the site, including developing only part of the land, pursuing other grocery stores, or giving a parcel to the community for gardening or farming, the source reported. Dash’s Markets owner Joe Dash didn’t attend the UHC meeting. The ideas were sent to his representatives, the source reported.

Dash met with UHC members on Feb. 3 to discuss their concerns, the source reported. Darren Cotton, UHC vice president, said Dash told them during the meeting that self-storage was the only commercially viable use for the land. He also said he hasn’t received any offers from buyers who are looking to reopen the building as a grocery store, the source reported.

UHC members are looking at the area’s current zoning to determine if self-storage would be permitted, the source reported. The Buffalo Common Council has a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 24. It’s unknown at this time if the self-storage development will be on the agenda.

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11/13/2014 – Dash’s Markets Inc., a New York-based grocery retailer, has submitted a proposal to convert one of its properties in Buffalo, N.Y., to self-storage. The company’s plan to convert the former Budwey’s Supermarket on Kenmore Avenue to indoor, climate-controlled units and add seven storage buildings on the existing parking lot has received opposition from local residents.

Dash’s presented its proposal this week to the University Heights Collaborative, a neighborhood group. Residents have said they would prefer the building remain a grocery store, with some calling the self-storage plan “the worst idea ever” on social media, according to the source.

“We did a study and found there was a need for outside storage in the area,” Mark Mahoney, director of operations for Dash’s, told the source.

Dash’s acquired Budwey’s last year and operated it under the company’s brand for a while before submitting a plan to convert it to a specialty Italian market. The store closed for renovations in May, and in July, Dash’s said it would not reopen the location as a supermarket, the source reported.

Dash’s believes the site is no longer viable for a grocery market because the Department of Transportation has plans to reconstruct roads near the store between April and October next year, Mahoney told the source. The road project will significantly limit traffic to the site, he said.

Dash’s operates four grocery stores in New York including two in the Buffalo area.

Update 11/4/15 – Stack-It Storage Inc. has closed the acquisition of its initial operating facility in the self-storage industry. It will be owned by a newly-formed subsidiary of the company and operated under the brand Stack-It Storage.

The purchase was largely financed via a secured term loan from a commercial bank, according to a company press release. The loan is structured as interest-only, payable on a monthly basis for the first two years. Beginning in the third year, payments will also include a monthly principal component based on a 25-year amortization. The loan matures at the end of the third year with two one-year extension periods available at the election of the bank, the release stated.

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9/2/15 – Stack-It Storage Inc., a Houston-based self-storage business, has entered a contract to purchase its first operating facility. The unidentified property is in Huffman, Texas, and comprises 22,000 net rentable square feet in 202 storage units. It will be acquired for $1.5 million. The publicly traded company, formerly known as Caprock Oil Inc., expects the deal to close by Oct. 15, according to a press release.

The facility is on 2.57 acres, near the Lake Houston reservoir and recreation area. It was constructed in multiple phases between 1996 and 2004, and had 94 percent occupancy at the time of the purchase agreement. Stack-It believes there’s room to expand the facility and is considering a project that would add up to 20,000 square feet of climate-controlled space to the property.

"We are delighted to be making our initial acquisition in the self-storage business at Lake Houston. It is well suited to meet our criteria of solid current operations and potential for future development,” said Steven Mikel, president and CEO. “Once we complete and integrate the Lake Houston acquisition, we plan to continue our growth strategy that is expected to result in the acquisition of multiple self-storage facilities in the coming months and years."

Stack-It formally changed its stock issuing name from Caprock Oil on July 23, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Caprock Oil operated in the exploration and production business and, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns working interests in properties in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. When the company began its transition to self-storage, it indicated it would maintain its interests in a group of residual oil and gas properties, according to a stock profile on “The New York Times.”

Stack-It is a “small-cap” public company based in Houston. As it moves into the self-storage industry, the company intends to acquire and operate existing facilities within the continental United States, according to the release. “As a registered public company for over 10 years, Stack-It is well positioned to take advantage of recent regulatory rules in order to raise new equity to underpin its transition into the self-storage business,” company officials said.

The William Warren Group (WWG), a privately held real estate company that operates the StorQuest Self Storage brand, received approval for a conditional-use permit from the La Mesa, Calif., City Council last week, paving the way for a self-storage development on the southeast corner of Commercial Street and Center Drive. WWG has proposed a 110,346-square-foot storage facility on 1.4 acres. The three-story building would include 856 climate-controlled units comprising 79,908 square feet, according to the source.

The council’s 3-1 vote rejected an appeal filed by resident Christina Martin after the planning commission approved the conditional-use permit on Sept. 16. In her appeal, Martin contended the self-storage project was not consistent with the city’s general plan and argued the commission had ignored an industrial-zoning requirement to create jobs. The self-storage facility would have three to four employees and “displace” 20-25 office workers, the source reported. WWG’s employment projection includes construction workers and those maintaining the property.

Job creation was mentioned in 21 letters the commission received in August in opposition to the self-storage facility, according to the source. "You haven’t been able to figure out how to get a decent hotel built in La Mesa … but you're going to let a giant, ugly storage [sic] be built right on the freeway for all to see," wrote resident Claudia Almaguer.

In an Oct. 19 letter to the city council, Bill Hobin, president and CEO of WWG, said the project would “inject $14 million into the economy” and noted that self-storage has become an "incubator of small business, often serving as the home for startups, technology, e-commerce, and distribution-related businesses." The StorQuest facility will feature a conference room, onsite bellman, free truck and driver service, and WiFi, according to the source. It will also sell packing and shipping supplies.

Buildings adjacent to the storage site include warehouses and some commercial and light-industrial uses, including auto repair and retail, but project opponents said newer businesses include craft breweries and a winery.

"We only have about 1 percent of industrial area left,” said council member Ruth Sterling, prior to being the lone dissenting vote against the permit. “Is this what we want? The building is eight times as large as our library."

During the meeting, local property owner Dan Brophy said the StorQuest plan was “a cool project” and pointed out the area had previously included a “full-fledged junk yard,” according to the source. “The area is better with each development,” he said.

Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Monica, Calif., WWG acquires, develops and operates more than 100 self-storage facilities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina and Texas.

Strategic Storage Trust II Inc. (SST II), a self-storage real estate investment trust, has acquired Rainbow Mini Storage in Tampa, Fla., for $3.1 million, or $63.16 per net rentable square foot. The property at 9823 W. Hillsborough Ave. comprises 50,070 net rentable square feet of storage space on 3.14 acres. Built in 1985, it has 12 buildings with 514 drive-up and climate-controlled units.

“We will continue to target self-storage assets in this market since Tampa is the second-most populous city in Florida,” said Wayne Johnson, chief investment officer for SST II. “We see value-add possibilities and long-term rate growth opportunities at this Tampa property.”

SST II and the seller, Rainbow Mini-Storage Inc., were represented by Jay J. Crotty, managing partner, and Thomas A. Doyle, senior vice president, of BayView Advisors.

"The property was owned by the original family [who] built it, but they felt the market conditions were strong enough to warrant selling right now,” Crotty said. “It is in a highly sought-after Tampa location, which made the process very competitive. The property also has significant upside opportunities for occupancy and rate increases for the buyer to capitalize on.”

The SST II portfolio includes 18,500 self-storage units and approximately 2 million rentable square feet of storage space.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., BayView specializes in self-storage acquisition, development, facility expansion and renovation, refinancing, and sales.

Commercial Properties Inc., a Raleigh, N.C.-based real estate developer, has included self-storage as part of a mixed-use development proposed for the intersection of North Carolina Highway 42 East and Glen Laurel Road in Clayton, N.C. The plan calls for a three-story self-storage facility, 240 apartments and about 200,000 square feet of retail space on 45.5 acres, according to the source.

The project would require rezoning from part industrial, part residential to mixed-use. The Clayton Planning Board unanimously recommended the rezoning last week. The proposal still must be reviewed by the town council.

Phase one of the development would include the storage facility on 4.5 acres and the apartments on 20 acres. The 21-acre area reserved for retail would be built later and could include a “big box” anchor, the source reported. The property is owned by former Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. and his brother, Robert.

“We are working on the retail anchor now,” said Brantley Tillman, president of Commercial Properties. “We do not have one yet but feel confident we will secure a good one.”

Since the development would back up to East Clayton Park, the developer has also planned a walking trail that could become part of the state’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, according to the source.

Although planners recommended the rezoning, board member Bob Ahlert questioned if the project is too early considering the state highway in that part of town won’t be widened to four lanes for three more years. The North Carolina Department of Transportation intends to widen the highway from Glen Laurel Road to Buffalo Road, but the state doesn’t plan to begin its right-of-way acquisition until next year, the source reported. Construction for the road-widening project is scheduled to start in 2018.

David DeYoung, Clayton’s planning director, indicated the road project would not severely impact the mixed-use development, according to the source.

Founded in 1976, Commercial Properties specializes in developing neighborhood shopping centers and commercial buildings.

Update 11/3/15 – The planning commission unanimously recommended approval for a 550-unit self-storage facility to be developed near the CanalSide mixed-use development in Columbia, S.C. The recommendation came despite several members of the public speaking in opposition to the proposal. The $9 million self-storage project will be reviewed by the city council in December, according to the source.

Eight community members spoke against the plan. Marshall, representing the Congaree Vista Guild, argued the facility will be a “largely dead occupancy” between the CanalSide development and the rest of the Vista District, the source reported. Others questioned the three-story building’s aesthetics and whether city ordinances enable the facility to become part of the CanalSide plan.

Ryan Hyler, vice president for development at investment firm Tomlin Interests, told the commission the storage facility will make a “great amenity to downtown” and appeal to those living in the CanalSide residences. Hyler was previously identified by the source as a project-development manager with Landmark Builders. “We think as we continue to draw people into the urban core, we’re going to have to be able to provide these types of amenities to get them there,” he said.

Tomlin Interests has been working with The Beach Co. to include the self-storage facility as part of the mixed-use development, according to Daniel D’Alberto, an attorney representing Tomlin.

“We believe that we are building a very attractive building that will be highly visible as you come across the bridge,” Hyler told the commission. “And it will be a facility that we think will be unsurpassed in Columbia.” The comment elicited laughter from the back of the room, the source reported.

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11/2/15 – The Congaree Vista Guild, a nonprofit merchants group in Columbia, S.C., strongly opposes a self-storage proposal submitted by construction company Landmark Builders. The project calls for a multi-story storage facility on 1.86 acres at the corner of Hampton and Williams streets, across from the CanalSide mixed-use development, according to the source. The planning commission is scheduled to discuss the project this week.

According to city manager John Fellows, the self-storage project is partnering with CanalSide developer The Beach Co., which wants the storage facility included as part of that site’s development plans, the source reported. CanalSide is a 23-acre development in Columbia’s Vista District on the Congaree River. The mixed-use project features 750 condominiums, lofts and townhomes, along with complementary retail services, according to The Beach Co. website.

Dale Marshall, development committee chairman for the Congaree Vista Guild, believes self-storage is inconsistent with CanalSide’s original design, the source reported. “The Guild feels that allowing for the construction of a climate-controlled storage facility on one of the prominent gateways into downtown Columbia does not meet the long-term development goals we advocate for Columbia,” Marshall wrote in a statement to city officials.

The self-storage plan also includes pedestrian sidewalks and parking behind the building. The facility would feature a commercial storefront, with the exterior a combination of brick masonry panel, stucco and clear glass, according to the source.

Ryan Hyler, a project development manager with Landmark Builders, is listed as the self-storage applicant. Hyler told the source he would withhold comment until after the commission discusses the project on Nov. 2.

City-planning staff has recommended approval for the project.

MyPorter, a startup business specializing in valet self-storage, has launched service in the Atlanta metropolitan market. The company uses an online platform that allows customers to schedule item pickup, maintain a visual catalog of stored bins and bulky items, and schedule delivery of items to their home.

“While demand for storage is high, the soaring costs along with the cumbersome and archaic process of self-storage make it an area ripe for disruption,” said Jason Kay, founder. “Especially in today’s on-demand economy, there’s no reason why people in need of storage shouldn’t be able to have a digital platform for storage in which they can have their goods picked up and delivered anytime, anywhere.”

Similar to other valet-style storage operators, MyPorter offers by-the-bin storage targeted at urban residents who don’t have adequate home storage. Items are stored in a secure warehouse off limits to customers. Pricing starts at $7.50 per month per bin, with a minimum stay of three months. Pricing on oversized items ranges between $15 and $30. Delivery fees begin at $20, with same-day service available for an additional $10. Larger items requiring two people to carry are assessed an extra $5 fee, according to the company website.

To reach its target market, the company is partnering with apartment complexes in the metro area. "We are excited to provide our Atlanta residents a new option for storage that gives them unlimited space in an on-demand platform,” said Elliot Howell, vice president of development at Trammell Crow Residential Co., a Dallas-based multi-family real estate company. “This service will have a significant positive impact on the way our apartment residents store their belongings."

MyPorter joins valet-storage operator Closetbox in serving the Atlanta market. The MyPorter metro-service area includes the communities of Alpharetta, Marietta and Roswell. The company plans to expand to additional urban markets in the Southeast early next year, according to a press release.