Miami City Self Storage (MCSS), a South Florida-based joint venture that develops storage facilities, is set to launch an acquisitions platform that will invest in storage properties in “key urban markets” nationwide. The announcement came as the company began construction on its 11th South Florida facility, the final project in its development pipeline, according to a press release. More details will be revealed early next year, officials said.

“While we are cautious about development at this stage, we are extremely bullish about the consumer demand for high-quality, amenitized self-storage in dense locations,” said partner Jay Massirman. “We are aggressively looking for existing facilities to acquire through our new platform.”

The company recently completed a project at 5600 S. University Drive in Davie, Fla. The facility under construction is at 2460 S.W. 28th Lane in Miami. Both will be managed by CubeSmart, a self-storage real estate investment trust and property-management firm.

The MCSS South Florida development projects have been underway since 2015.

Founded by Massirman and industry veterans Stephen Garchik and Stephen McBride, MCSS develops urban-infill self-storage facilities. Its portfolio comprises more than 700,000 net rentable square feet.

PTI Security Systems, a provider of access-control and security solutions for the self-storage industry, has partnered with Innuvo, a company that provides audiovisual (A/V) and security products and services for commercial and residential properties. The companies will combine Innuvo’s “full-service security solutions” with PTI’s self-storage technology, according to a press release.

Innuvo specializes in customized solutions. It recently blended biometrics, closed-circuit television, a mantrap and video-analytics technology with PTI intercoms and tele-entry systems at SoBe Wine & Self Storage in Miami, Fla. A mantrap is an air-locked access-control vestibule with two sets of interlocking doors. The first set must close before the second can open.

“This partnership will offer Innuvo’s self-storage customers unprecedented high-tech security options and an increased peace of mind their self-stored belongings are safe,” Innuvo officials said in the release.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Innuvo has offered custom A/V and security solutions for 24 years.

PTI manufactures technology-enabled security solutions. Its product line includes access-control hardware and software, wired and wireless door alarms, and mobile-access solutions. The company has installed more than 37,000 systems in 30-plus countries. It operates through two U.S. locations as well as distributors in Asia, Australia and Europe.

Source:
Virtual Strategy Magazine, Innuvo Partners with PTI Security to Fortify Self-Storage Security

Storage Asia Co. Ltd., which operates i-Store Self Storage in Thailand, has signed an agreement with Thai Movers Ltd. to integrate the companies’ storage and moving services. The partnership is designed to combine the “operational strength” of both organizations through consulting and services, according to the source.

“The business expansion of the company is to increase the operational efficiency to the self-storage business of i-Store,” said Pakdee Anivat, CEO and founder of Storage Asia. “The company is determined to continue its integrated storage services in all aspects.”

Kris Snidvongs, general manager for Thai Movers, believes the partnership will provide business growth for both companies, particularly in Bangkok’s Central Business District.

The companies’ goal in 2019 is to earn 200 new customers through the shared-services platform. Officials also plan to extend moving-management services to i-Store’s two locations.

i-Store operates two Bangkok facilities, offering traditional self-storage to business and residential customers, along with wine storage and i-StoreGO, a valet-storage service.

Thai Movers offers domestic and international relocation services to residents, as well as business moving services.

Sources:
The Nation, i-Store and Thai Movers Form New Moving and Storage Service
i-Store, Website
Thai Movers, Website

Self-storage operators around the world have launched drives to collect clothing, food, toys and more for various charitable organizations this holiday season. Here’s a summary of how they’re giving back to their communities.

Amy’s Attic Self Storage, which operates seven Texas locations, collected holiday cards this month as part of its “Community Through Cards” initiative for distribution to local nursing homes and first responders. The cards were accepted at all company locations until Dec. 14. The facilities in Copperas Cove, Harker Heights and Salado also provided decoration stations where community members could make cards, according to the source.

The Copperas Cove location also partnered with the second-grade classes at J.L. Williams/Lovett Ledger Elementary School on card creations. The student-made cards will be delivered to the Copperas Cove Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for its holiday party on Dec. 20. Additional cards will be given to local first responders as well as residents of the Hill Country Rehab and Nursing Center, the source reported.

Amy’s Attic launched the card program in 2017. “The Community Through Cards is really a way for us to share, connect and grow through this program,” said Chandra Howard, property manager for the Harker Heights location. “We love doing any type of activity or event that allows us to give back, and the fact that we actually go onsite and deliver these things, those are things that I know our staff look forward to doing as well as the people who participate.”

Since the program’s inception, several local teachers have implemented the card donations into their lesson plans, focusing on teaching children about shapes, writing and colors. The program also shows students the importance of being a part of a community, Howard said. “As little as decorating a card will help them in the future understand what that means to actually be able to reach out and give back,” she added.

The Copperas Cove site also offered space to parents to wrap presents and a box for children to drop off letters to Santa.

Amy’s Attic Manager Lisa Sherwood said she enjoys delivering the cards to nursing-home residents. “It makes my heart happy,” she said. “When I see them, the older people that don’t have family, it just brightens up their day. When they hug you and say thank you, that’s what it’s all about—is to make them happy—especially during the holidays when they don’t have anybody, because they feel so alone in there. It’s well worth it.”

Founded in 2004, Amy’s Attic hosts regularly community events and donates to local schools, first responders and other charitable organizations.

1-800-Self-Storage.com, which operates 13 locations in Michigan, and mobile-storage provider Container on Wheels (COWs) of Pontiac, Mich., once again partnered with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department in November for its annual “Coats for the Cold” drive. The self-storage operator donated boxes for the event’s 68 drop-off locations, and collected items at its Oak Park and Troy, Mich., locations. COWS provided mobile containers at four drop-off sites. The donated outerwear was delivered to several charitable organizations, who then distributed them to those in need at no cost.

The Access Self Storage facility in Coventry, England, is collecting donations until Dec. 14 for Crisis UK, an organization that provides education, employment, housing and well-being services for the homeless. The company’s goal is to beat last year’s collection of 1,600 items. Now in its eighth year, the drive has collected more than 4,500 donations.

“Having collected for Crisis UK for several years, we feel very close to this charity and really believe in the great work they do for our community,” said property manager Nick Laming. “It is wonderful to see their appreciation when we hand over the donations, and we want to urge our community to help spread cheer to the homeless in our area this Christmas.”

Access operates more than 50 facilities in the United Kingdom, with a large concentration in Greater London.

Family-owned and operated Apple Self Storage of Canada has launched its fourth annual “Santa’s Secret Storage.” Community members can direct postage and courier deliveries to one of the company’s 29 participating locations and the gifts will be held for free until Dec. 24.

“We’re so excited to be offering this amazing service again this year. The ability to shop online and not have to manage your schedule to be home to accept courier deliveries, or risk leaving those new Christmas presents on your porch is something that we’ve been offering to customers of Apple Self Storage for years,” said David Allen, the company’s vice president of development. “But during the Christmas season, it’s exciting to be able to open it up not only for our customers but for anybody. It’s our little way of trying to help busy Canadians, and keep prying eyes and fingers out of their Christmas surprises.”

US Storage Centers, which operates self-storage facilities in 15 states, is partnering with Move for Hunger to collect food for local food banks at its 17 locations in Tennessee and Texas, until Dec. 28. Each location will have a designated area for people to drop off non-perishable food items. Move for Hunger is a nonprofit that works to fight hunger and reduce food waste.

“US Storage Centers believes that we must all take a stand against hunger,” said Charles Byerly, CEO and president.

Founded in 1985, US Storage Centers is the operating brand for Westport Properties Inc., a real estate investment company that acquires, develops and operates self-storage facilities.

Sources:
Coventry Live: The Simple Way You Can Help Coventry's Homeless This Christmas
The Oakland Press, Donation Time: ‘Coats for the Cold’ Kicking Off in Oakland County
Virtual Strategy Magazine, Apple Self Storage Presents Santa’s Secret Storage
Cover Leader Press, Amy’s Attic Collecting Cards for Nursing Home Residents, First Responders

Hampshire Real Estate Cos., a private real estate investment firm and self-storage operator, has opened two new facilities near Philadelphia, totaling more than 200,000 square feet of space. They’re the company’s 32nd and 33rd self-storage developments since 2012, and its fourth and fifth projects in the area, according to a press release.

The three-story facility at 1240 Chester Pike in Crum Lynne, an urban neighborhood in Ridley Park, Pa., comprises 110,532 square feet, while the building at 59 Leverington Ave. in Phildelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood encompasses 93,353 square feet. Both will be managed by self-storage real estate investment trust Extra Space Storage Inc. and branded under its name.

“While we have a long history in self-storage, we’ve been particularly bullish on development opportunities for the past few years,” said Don Engels, senior vice president of self-storage acquisitions and development. “We continually look to source deals in underserved, densely populated areas in an effort to deliver these increasingly in-demand assets and deliver them to local markets throughout the northeast. Crum Lynne and Manayunk are both excellent locations with strong demographics that fit extremely well within our self-storage investment strategy, and we look forward to continuing to pursue opportunities in this market.”

Hampshire opened a three-story Extra Space Storage facility in Millburn, N.J., last month. The property comprises 104,260 square feet of storage in 767 units.

Hampshire has 12 development projects underway across the Eastern United States, a $217 million investment. The company is targeting another 14 projects with an aggregate value of $243 million, the release stated.

Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Morristown, N.J., Hampshire has a diversified investment platform that includes self-storage, industrial, medical, office and retail properties primarily in Northern New Jersey.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space Storage Inc. is a real estate investment trust and third-party management firm. The company owns or operates 1,568 self-storage properties in 39 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. Its properties comprise approximately 1.09 million units and 119 million square feet of rentable space.

Source:
NJ Biz, Hampshire Cos. Continues Self-Store Development

Real estate development company Atlantic SBS LLC has opened South Broad Storage in Chattanooga, Tenn. The property at 2430 Cowart St. comprises 35,720 square feet of rentable storage space in 332 climate-controlled units, according to a press release.

The facility will serve the Southside Historic District, which is less than a mile from downtown. It’s also near landmarks such as Chattanooga Market, Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, Finley Stadium, Tennessee Aquarium and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The property will be managed by Absolute Storage Management, a self-storage owner and property-management firm. Founded in 2002, the company operates more than 100 properties in 13 states. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., it has regional offices in Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Jackson, Miss.; and Nashville, Tenn.

Founded in 2017, Atlantic SBS is based in Chattanooga.

Source:
The Chattanoogan, New Self Storage Facility Opens on Cowart Street

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Self-storage developer Jeremiah 29 LLC, an affiliate of commercial real estate firm O'Brien Commercial Properties Inc. (OCP), is building a five-story self-storage facility on a 3-acre parcel in Marlborough, Mass. The property at 215 Simarano Drive will comprise 80,000 square feet in 525 climate-controlled units. Marlborough Self Storage is expected to be complete in October 2019.

The conventional steel structure will have two large elevators and four loading docks. A second phase will add more than 80,000 square feet of storage in about 550 units. The facility will be managed by OCP, according to the company website.

The site is off Interstate 495, near the new Apex Entertainment complex and the eight-rink New England Sports Center. It’s within walking distance from nearly 1,000 apartments.

Jeremiah 29 secured an $8 million construction loan in November. Aho Construction Inc. is serving as general contractor.

Based in Concord, Mass., OCP specializes in the brokerage of industrial real estate along the I-495 corridor, in Eastern Massachusetts and the western suburbs of Boston. The company also offers multi-tenant property management.

Sources:
Worcester Business Journal, Real Estate Mogul to Build $8M Marlborough Self-Storage Facility
O'Brien Commercial Properties, Website