Update 3/30/18 – The Gastonia, N.C., City Council this week unanimously approved McCord’s rezoning request after hashing out project details. The council was forced to vote after three adjoining landowners appealed the planning commission’s decision last month, according to the source.

The debate during Tuesday’s council meeting centered on development standards, including whether a fence or wall should be erected around the facility. Brent Messer, a representative for The Lutheran Church, said the church isn’t opposed to the land being developed but has concerns about aesthetics. Another neighboring landowner, Les McLean, suggested property values could suffer if a solid brick wall wasn’t added as a buffer, the source reported.

Requiring McCord to add a high brick wall would be unreasonable and make the project cost-prohibitive, said councilmember Dave Kirlin, who added that city planning staff will play a large role in the property design. “You can’t take this kind of a development and turn it into something it’s not,” he said. “You can’t wrap it up with brick and think it’s not a mini-storage warehouse.”

Kirlin pointed to the recent development of Sam’s Xpress Car Wash on East Franklin Boulevard as an example of how the city staff works to minimize adverse effects on adjacent property owners. In addition, there will be a detailed planning review, said Jason Thompson, planning director.

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2/13/18 – A developer is seeking zoning approval to build a self-storage facility on a vacant parcel in Gastonia, N.C. Gary McCord has submitted an application to the planning commission to redevelop a 4.5-acre wooded patch at the intersection of Pineview Lane and South New Hope Road.

Split into two parcels, the site is owned by Ashbrook Station Limited. It was rezoned in 1996 for the development of a used-car sales center, but the project was never built, according to the source. The current zoning is adequate for self-storage use. However, to accommodate the 160 units McCord wants to build, the city would need to rezone a connected residential tract off Pineview Lane on which stands a single-family rental home. The city’s planning staff has recommended approving the rezoning.

The storage facility would be built between Berry’s Bakery and The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. The site is just down the road from Ashbrook High School.

The plans for the storage project show the building elevations and an office, both of which would need to be approved by the city’s technical-review committee, the source reported.

Sources:
Gaston Gazette, ‘Mini-Warehouse’ Business Eyes Lot Along South New Hope Road
Gaston Gazette, Gastonia Approves Plan for Storage Units Along New Hope Road

Merrill Self Storage, which operates seven facilities in Arkansas and Oklahoma, donated free use of a climate-controlled unit at its Tahlequah, Okla., location to a local Girl Scout chapter for its cookie-fundraising campaign. Tahlequah Girl Scout Troop 251 set up a “cookie cupboard” at 3280 S Muskogee Ave., which allowed them access to the product for individual orders and booth sales.

The troop is part of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Cherokee Service Unit (GSEOK). From Feb. 3 to March 18, the eight troops in the unit sold 19,510 boxes of cookies, a 6.7 percent over the 2017 season, according to the source. Of the $4 earned for each box, more than 74 percent stays with the scout, her troop and the council to “fund high-quality leadership development programming,” according to the GSEOK website, which serves 13,000 girls and volunteers in 30 eastern Oklahoma counties. The scouts sold the cookies in person and had the option to have a “digital storefront,” a Web-based platform to take orders.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is designed to teach girls five skills: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics. Participates in the program are eligible to earn the “Cookie Activity Pin” for their uniforms, and a new pin can be earned each year, the source reported.

Merrill Self Storage offers 24-hour gate access, climate-controlled and drive-up units, and vehicle storage at select locations. In addition, it provides check-cashing services and loans at its sites in Sallisaw, Tahlequah and Wagoner, Okla.  

Sources:
Tahlequah Daily Press, Local Girl Scouts Surpass Last Year's Cookie Sales
Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Cherokee Service Unit, Website

Self-storage properties are constantly changing hands, and Inside Self-Storage is regularly notified of these market transactions. Many are covered in detail on the ISS website and available for viewing on the “Acquisitions and Buying” topics page. Following are additional acquisitions and sales that weren’t covered.

51st Street Storage in Tulsa, Okla., was sold to a private investor. The property at 4512 E. 51st St. comprises 53,250 square feet of storage space. The buyer was represented in the transaction by Jared Jones, managing broker of Jones Investment Properties and an affiliate of the Argus Self Storage Sales Network.

Arizona Storage Inns in Mesa, Ariz., was sold for $8.9 million. The property at 1750 N. Country Club Drive contains 11 buildings comprising 82,000 square feet of storage space in 800 units. It also includes 130 vehicle-parking spaces. The buyer and the seller were represented in the transaction by Bill Alter, managing director for Rein & Grossoehme.

Attic XII Self Storage LLC purchased West Town Square shopping center in Rome, Ga., for $8.6 million. The property at 2204 Shorter Ave. N.W. comprises 84,828 square feet of space. The buyer and the seller, Eck-Phoenix LLC, were represented in the transaction by Joe Montgomery, senior vice president, and Tony D’Ambrosio, senior vice president and principal, of Colliers International.

Extra Room Self Storage in Midland, Ga., was sold. The facility at 6700 Flat Rock Road comprises 65,175 square feet of storage space in 418 climate-controlled and drive-up units. The transaction was brokered by David Spencer, vice president of The Storage Acquisition Group (TSAG). He was assisted by Monty Spencer, CEO and president of TSAG.

U Storage OK in Oklahoma City was sold to a private investment group. The 7.89-acre property is at 14000 N. Interstate 35. The buyer was represented in the transaction by Brian Fulton, associate with Marcus & Millichap (M&M). The seller, a limited-liability company, was represented by Trey Hammond, senior associate, and Michael A. Mele, senior managing director investments, both with M&M.

Argus is a Denver-based network of real estate brokers who specialize in storage properties. Formed in 1994, the company has 36 broker affiliates covering nearly 40 markets.

Colliers is a global commercial real estate services firm employing more than 16,000 professionals who operate out of 554 offices in 66 countries.

Founded in 1971, M&M is a commercial-property investment firm with more than 1,500 investment professionals in offices throughout Canada and the United States.

Founded in 1993, Rein & Grossoehme specializes in the sale of investment properties and retail as well as office and industrial leasing.

Based in Yorktown, Va., TSAG represents a private real estate investment fund that's solely focused on acquiring self-storage facilities.

Sources:
Digital Journal, The Storage Acquisition Group Announces the Sale of An Extra Room Self Storage
Rebusiness Online, Colliers Brokers $8.6M Sale of Shopping Center in North Georgia

The education DVDs that will be recorded during the 2018 Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas, April 3-6, are now available for pre-order in the Inside Self-Storage Store. Choose from 45 individual seminars and nine discount packages covering self-storage building, investing, management, marketing, ownership and technology.

Discount savings on pre-orders for individual DVDs and bundles range to as much as 25 percent and will remain available through the conclusion of the show. All six concurrent education tracks being offered during the event will be recorded in their entirety. Each session will be available as an individual DVD, while each complete track will be offered as a DVD set. Three larger bundled packages offer the most savings off the cost of individual DVDs.

Fulfillment of DVD pre-orders are expected to be complete by June 22. All 45 individual sessions will also be offered as on-demand video toward the end of June. Visit the ISS Store for full product details.

Technology is said to make our lives easier. If that’s so, why do so many self-storage employees consider “technology” to be a four-letter word? Is it because it requires change?

Fear of change is part of the problem, and it’s natural; but the concern behind technological evolution often stems from not knowing how to use a program or device, or even what it does. It’s often a fear of failure, not the tool itself. The feeling that we might not be able to do our job effectively is disconcerting.

It’s no secret that technology can improve your business—if it’s implemented correctly. It’s the responsibility of the owner or supervisor to make staff comfortable and prepared to use it. You can’t assume people will figure things out on their own. Excellent, happy, productive employees require training and development. Fortunately, there are many methods you can use to effectively train on new technology.

Make Good Decisions

The time has arrived for your self-storage operation to adopt new technology to run more efficiently and enjoy greater success. That said, it’s imperative to shop for the right products for your organization. Don’t assume the cheapest option will “work fine.” If the tools you plan to use are difficult to operate, the outcome isn’t likely to be increased productivity; it’ll be frustrated employees who can no longer do their job efficiently.

It might be helpful to ask your staff to assist in the search for new technology. Ask what tools they think would be useful. Give them ownership in the process.

Find something simple and easy to use. If you’re shopping for a software program, don’t pick one with functions your business will never use. Likewise, don’t choose one you can’t use or teach someone else how to use. (There are classes and training programs supervisors can take to make them qualified to train other team members.)

Sell It to Employees

As the decision-maker, if you believe new technology is a benefit to your business, you need to make your employees believe it. Tell them what’s in it for them. Tell them why! Give them a list of ways the new tool will improve day-to-day operation. Take the time to answer questions. Let them test the technology and get a feel for it before training begins. Give them a chance to see what issues might need to be addressed. Prepare them for the change and find a way to sell it in a positive light. Help them embrace the change rather than fight it.

Most important, lead by example. Show your staff you’re in this with them, that you’re willing to invest time and money for them to succeed. Make them engaged in what you’re doing. You don’t want employees who come to work every day just for the paycheck. You want ones who care about the future of your organization, who are willing to work hard to learn the new technology and maximize it. If you don’t involve yourself in the process, it’s going to be much harder to turn your staff into believers.

Finally, get influencers on board with your plan. Many operators are fortunate to have employees who are technologically savvy and will pick up new tools quickly. Get them on your side. Make them your ambassadors. They can also help you develop and implement a training program.

Create a Training Program

Please don’t surprise your employees on Monday morning with new software installed on the computer. Have a plan to introduce the new program. Once you’ve completed your own training, you’ll be ready to create a program for the rest of your team. Take the time to create materials and a schedule. Don’t just give them a copy of the user’s manual and assume it’ll be sufficient.

Also, give them various types of materials to make the subject matter less boring. For example, use infographics or short videos. Make it fun or like a game, if you can. Offer rewards for those who perform well. A simple acknowledgment can be very effective.

It’s important to remember that people learn in different ways. Some may be visual learners, while others are audible learners. If you don’t already know, find out how your employees will best learn. You might need to invest a little extra time and money to diversify your training materials so you have something to suit everyone. It’ll be worth it because it’ll make the transition smoother for all.

For example, if one employee learns more effectively from watching video than reading print material, provide video tutorial. Have small-group training with a few employees at a time so they don’t become overwhelmed. Also, create an opportunity for one-on-one training as well as group- and classroom-style training.

Follow Up and Through

Check in with your employees during the training process and after it’s been completed. If one team member is having a particularly hard time, give him a buddy to work with or take a hands-on approach and train him yourself. Allow staff the opportunity to ask questions. Ask for their feedback and use it when appropriate.

If you offer a resource you think might help them, follow through and provide the support. Make your employees believe they’re valuable. Circling back around to ask how they’re feeling with the changes you put in place will likely make them feel great about their employee-employer relationship and make them want to succeed.

Self-storage sometimes seems like a slowly progressing industry. (Even now, there are facilities that still don’t have a website, for example.) Making advancements in technology is essential to the success of your business. Don’t shy away from changes because your employees grumble and complain. Don’t avoid it because it requires extra time and effort in your already crazy schedule. Acknowledge the benefits technology can have on your operation and make a plan to implement it successfully!

Cheli Rosa is director of marketing for StorageStuff.Bid, which provides online storage-auction services. She’s a former high school teacher turned storage professional turned auctioneer. She’s worked in all areas of self-storage. Her constant desire for additional knowledge led her to immerse herself in the lien-foreclosure process. For more information, call 877.758.4243; visit www.storagestuff.bid. 

SpareFoot, an online marketplace for self-storage consumers, has acquired SiteLink, a provider of cloud-based software solutions for the self-storage industry. The deal was made possible through a partnership with Cove Hill Partners, a Boston-based private-equity firm that will acquire a majority stake in both businesses, according to a press release.

SpareFoot CEO Chuck Gordon will become CEO of the combined company, and Ross Lampe will remain president of SiteLink. The transactions are expected to close in the next 30 days, subject to customary closing conditions, the release stated.

“We're excited to combine two of the most respected and successful technology companies in self-storage,” Gordon said. “This deal and partnership with Cove Hill allows us to increase investment in our products to help self-storage operators run their businesses cost-effectively and help consumers find the perfect storage solution.”

The partnership will enable SpareFoot to find and deliver more tenants to facilities on its network and accelerate technology investments at SiteLink. This includes the company’s myHub development, SiteLink Merchant Services and SiteLink Web Edition, its flagship product, the release stated.

“We have a unique opportunity to deepen our existing product integration and accelerate innovation,” said Markus Hecker, chief operations officer for SiteLink. “We remain committed to delivering value, and will use our combined resources to help our customers grow their businesses.”

SpareFoot was founded in 2008 by Gordon and Mario Feghali. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it helps consumers find and reserve self-storage units, with comparison shopping tools that show real-time availability and exclusive deals. With a network of more than 12,000 storage facilities ranging from mom-and-pop operations to real estate investment trusts, the company reaches prospective storage renters though partnerships with brands such as PODS, SelfStorage.com and Penske Truck Rental.

Founded in Raleigh, N.C., in 1996, SiteLink offers cloud- and Windows-based self-storage management software as well as built-in, in-house payment processing. Its software integrates with dozens of technology partners’ services including call centers, insurance, kiosks, mobile devices, websites and other platforms.

Cove Hill Partners was founded in 2017 by a team of private-equity investors focused on partnering with management teams to build consumer and technology companies. It currently manages an inaugural fund of more than $1 billion.

Source:
PR Newswire, SpareFoot Acquires SiteLink to Drive Innovation for the Self-Storage Industry

Carlsborg Self Storage of Sequim, Wash., which is owned and operated by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and its Economic Development Authority (EDA), is adding 45 new units. The expansion at 292 Business Park Loop is expected to be complete by May, according to the source.

The project was spurred by demand for self-storage in the area, according to Kyle Johnson, executive director of the EDA. The 180-unit facility is consistently at 100 percent occupancy and has a wait list. “We see there’s a need, and we’re just trying to maximize space as much as possible,” Johnson said.

Carlsborg features a number of larger, indoor units, which are in high demand, said Ben Neff, operations manager for the tribe. “At any given time, there might be one or two open, but we quickly fill those,” he added.

Built in 2004 and purchased by the tribe in 2012, the property features a gated entrance, video cameras and 30,000 square feet of unheated drive-up storage, according to its website. Its main office is at 257 Business Park Loop, around the corner from the actual storage units.

The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe EDA was established in 2005 to provide oversight and direction to tribal businesses. It owns several enterprises in addition to the self-storage facility, including casinos, development and excavating companies, and a golf course.

The S'Klallam people of the Olympic Peninsula are known as “the Strong People.” They’ve created a rich culture of art, spirituality, traditional knowledge and self-reliance that continues today, according to the storage-facility website.

Sources:
Sequim Gazette, Making Way for More Storage
Carlsborg Self Storage, Website

Florida real estate investor Sam Jazayri of Jazayri Realty has partnered with More Space Storage to build a five-building self-storage complex in Davie, Fla. The project will comprise 248,160 square feet in five buildings. Construction on the 5-acre site on the southwest corner of Bright Road and State Road 64 is expected to begin within the next 30 days, with completion expected next year, according to the source.

The project includes a four-story structure comprising 134,000 square feet and four single-story buildings, each comprising 28,540-square-feet, the source reported. Pembroke Park, Fla.-based Prestige Duke JV II, an affiliate of Jazayri Realty LLC, is the borrower for the $13 million project. The company acquired the parcel in 2009 for about $2.1 million, the source reported.

Based in Pembroke Park, Jazayri Realty specializes in the listing, marketing and selling of commercial and residential properties as well as undeveloped land. It also pursues commercial and investment opportunities, according to its website.

Source:
The Real Deal, Investor and Self-Storage Developer Plan Davie Complex

Commercial-mortgage lender Silver Hill Funding LLC has launched Commercial Direct, an online loan customizer designed to support “fast and flexible lending” to small businesses and real estate investors, including those in the self-storage sector. Loans are adjustable to individual needs, allowing customization of fixed-rate periods, interest rates, payment dates and prepayments, according to a press release.

Borrowers can seek funding through an online application. Customized terms are calculated to “enable borrowers to select their ideal solutions and get pre-qualified in minutes,” the release stated.

Commercial Direct will make loans between $250,000 and $5 million at 80 percent loan-to-value. The mortgages will be backed by Silver Hill.

“We created Commercial Direct because in today’s competitive, digital-first world, small-business owners and investors are hardwired for high speeds and need fast, flexible loan solutions to move their businesses forward,” said Leslie Smith, managing director. “We enable first-time and experienced borrowers alike to make quick, informed decisions and to close their loans in a matter of weeks as opposed to months of processing often experienced with traditional bank mortgages.”

Silver Hill is a national, small-balance commercial mortgage lender. It’s a division of Bayview Asset Management LLC, a full-service mortgage-investment firm, which has specialized in building and managing mortgage loan portfolios for more than 20 years. Silver Hill specializes in loans for light industrial, multi-family, office, retail, self-storage and other commercial properties.

Source:
BusinessWire, New Direct Lender Introduces Customizable Commercial Mortgages

The Nassau County, N.Y., Industrial Development Agency (IDA) could close a tourism loophole that provides tax breaks to new self-storage facilities and car dealerships. The IDA has used the exemption for projects it believes will attract customers from outside the region, according to the source, but county executive Laura Curran called on the IDA to end the practice. The agency has received criticism for the breaks it has given to developers of these types of properties.

Though the tax breaks are meant to spur economic development, Curran urged the IDA to adopt performance benchmarks and hold quarterly meetings online. She also believes business applicants and consultants who appear before the IDA should be required to disclose campaign contributions to county or local officials, the source reported.

The IDA relieved 173 projects with $44 million in tax breaks in 2016, an increase from $10.6 million for 67 projects in 2004, according to an audit conducted by county comptroller Jack Schnirman.

Curran also indicated she would create a task force to examine if the Nassau and Hempstead, N.Y., IDAs should work together “in an effort to make a more regional approach to economic development,” according to a press release.

Last April, the IDA ended its counsel contract with attorney Ed Ambrosino, after the Hempstead town-council member was arrested on charges of income-tax evasion and wire fraud. Ambrosino is accused of depositing IDA checks into a private bank account. He’s pleaded not guilty.

Source:
Newsday, Laura Curran Calls for End to IDA Tourism Loophole