FollettUSA, an owner of self-storage and manufactured-home communities, has purchased a facility in San Antonio from Extra Space Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust and third-party management company. It’s the company’s first asset in the state, according to a press release from SkyView Advisors, the real estate firm that brokered the transaction. 

The 2.7-acre property at 4515 De Zavala Road comprises 93,000 net rentable square feet of storage space in 763 units. Features include climate control, individually alarmed units, vehicle storage and video cameras.

The seller was represented in the transaction by Ryan Clark, director of investment sales for SkyView.

FollettUSA and a group of California investors recently purchased Firehouse Self Storage in Loveland, Colo., for $22.2 million, from the Burton Family. The property sits on 24 acres and contains 1,235 storage units. It carries a firehouse theme and has seven fire trucks on the site, five of which were purchased by FollettUSA.

Based in Sacramento, Calif., and founded in 1989, FollettUSA began purchasing and operating storage facilities in 2003. The company owns or operates 30 manufactured-home communities in 10 states and 10 self-storage facilities in California, Colorado, Texas and Utah.

Today’s top self-storage operators know a solid marketing plan is paramount in a tough market. Although a great location, superb service and competitive pricing all play important roles, it’s your marketing that will bring people through the door. Those who embrace a mix of online and offline strategies will achieve better brand awareness, ensuring their facility is the one customers choose.

To bring your marketing to the next level in 2018, take advantage of the expert resources on offer at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas, April 3-6. The show will include 45 seminars, eight workshops, six networking opportunities and nearly 200 exhibitors, with dedicated marketing opportunities in each category. It’s the place to learn how to build an effective plan, put it into practice and analyze its effectiveness.

Find Your Target

Whether you’re new to marketing or looking refresh your skills, you’ll find guidance in the Marketing Track of education seminars on April 4 and 5. Here’s a sample from the nine available sessions:

• The Minimum Effective Dose for Self-Storage Search Marketing—Looking for a barebones plan that will still make an impact? Learn the essentials in this session.
• Like a Dog With a Phone: Mobile-Centric Marketing for Self-Storage—As more people turn to their phones for product searches, it’s critical to maintain a strong mobile presence. Get insight to advertising, social media, website content and more.
• Launching Your New Location: Using Digital Marketing to Accelerate Self-Storage Lease-Up—Hit the ground running, even before you open your doors, with our presenter’s five-step plan.
• Community-Based Marketing for Self-Storage: Branding Your Business Through Good Works—There’s no better way to create buzz than through quality interactions with community members. Find out how “doing good and giving back” will translate to more sales.

Go Big Online

It’s no secret that having a digital presence is a must these days. But simply getting people to your website is only half the battle. You must then convert your visitors to paying customers. Our Online-Marketing Workshop will show you how.

The four-hour intensive session on April 3 will be led by a panel of experts who assist operators with their marketing programs every day. They’ll provide information on everything from the “job” of your website to today’s marketing trends. The workshop will show you how to:

• Build a strong conversion path and design a smooth online user experience
• Optimize your online rentals
• Set a proper marketing budget and even save money
• Convert more rentals through competitive analysis and market positioning
• Manage your online reputation
• Prioritize your marketing strategies, including on social media platforms
• Analyze your efforts

Make Connections

Once you learn the ins and outs of building your marketing program, you can find potential partners in the expo hall on April 4 and 5. The nearly 200 suppliers will include experts on website creation, search engine optimization, print advertising, lead generation, pay-per-click programs and much more. Stop by these booths to learn how these experts can help you improve your efforts.

Whether you’re a DIY machine or prefer someone else takes control, you must understand the ever-changing marketing paradigm. The ISS World Expo will provide you with insight and connections to help you keep pace with new trends and practices and ensure your plan achieves the best results. To register or explore information about the education tracks, seminars and speakers, visit www.issworldexpo.com.

Real estate developer Brian Walker received approval this week to convert a former lumber-storage warehouse in Missoula, Mont., to self-storage, despite the council’s desire that the structure be used for residential purposes. The property at 2115 Johnson St. is zoned community commercial and required a special-use permit for the storage use, according to the source.

The plans include the construction of 275 units inside the 13,800-square-foot building. Walker also agreed to make external improvements, including updates to the façade, and the addition of new landscaping and a sidewalk around the property.

Missoula City Councilmember John DiBari said that while he appreciates the enhancements, a storage facility isn’t the “highest and best use” for the site, which is across from Montana Rail Link Park, a 4.5-acre parcel under development that will include a playground, picnic shelter and community gardens.

Councilwoman Gwen Jones also would prefer that the storage facility be developed elsewhere, saying the location near adjacent neighborhoods, a school and bus routes ideal for residential development. “I hope that the reuse of this building doesn’t preclude residential going in some years down the road,” she said.

Although Walker had originally planned to remove the site’s chain-link fencing, he’ll leave for now after neighbors expressed concerns about the property’s safety, the source reported. The site will be unmanned and employ video cameras.

Walker has developed three other self-storage facilities, the source reported.

Sources:
Missoula Current, Missoula City Council Laments Loss of Home Sites, Approves Mini-Storage Warehouse
Missoula Current, Missoula Developer Eyes Former Lumber Building as Interior Mini-Storage Facility

Commercial real estate developer Eden Rock Real Estate Partners intends to convert a former school-administration center into a mixed-use project in the Hammond Park neighborhood of Atlanta. The project at 786 Cleveland Ave. would include a Space Shop Self Storage facility and a mix of commercial uses that could include retail and restaurants. The $2.7 million project would repurpose the existing three-story, 100,829-square-foot structure, as well as an addition, according to the source.

Eden Rock submitted a permit application last week, with the hope of beginning construction on the self-storage facility as quickly as possible, principal Brandon Ashkouti told the source. Though final decisions haven’t been made as to uses, both site plans prepared by the developer include the Space Shop facility. One also includes a 4,200-square-foot restaurant and a 2,700-square-foot oil-change outlet. The other pairs the restaurant with a 2,000-square-foot coffee shop, the source reported.

The existing building formerly housed administrative offices for Fulton County Schools. Eden Rock and Space Shop acquired the property in January, according to the source.

Space Shop operates nine self-storage facilities in the Atlanta market and one in Goose Creek, S.C.

Based in Atlanta, Eden Rock specializes in commercial real estate investment, new development and redevelopment in the Southeast. It offers consulting and turnkey construction services through its affiliate, B.A. Barrett Construction. The company and its affiliates have offices in the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Washington, D.C.

Source:
What Now Atlanta, Former Fulton County Schools Admin Center Site Set for Commercial Conversion

NBC Land Holding LLC is building self-storage condominiums in Naples, Fla., designed for vehicle storage. The Hideout: Elite Motor Storage will provide space for boats, cars, RVs and other vehicles. The units will be available for sale as part of a condominium association, according to the source.

The property at 195 Basik Drive is four miles east of the intersection at Collier Boulevard and U.S. Route 41. It’s also near Marco Island, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, off Southwest Florida and accessible from Naples.

Construction is slated to begin this spring, with the first building opening late this year or early next. Heatherwood Construction Co. is the general contractor on the project, according to the facility website.

The property will contain four buildings, all designed to withstand 170 mph winds, the source reported. One will comprise 14 12-foot-by-25-foot units with 12-foot-high ceilings. The other three will comprise seven units each ranging in size from 5-by-25 to 20-by-50 to 25-by-50 feet.

All four structures will be air-conditioned, with insulated, 10-by-10-foot overhead doors. Each individual unit will include insulated, concrete-block walls; a restroom; 200-amp service, including a separate 50 amp; fire sprinklers; 20-foot-high ceilings; and an insulated, 14-by-14-foot, automatic overhead door. Customers can also purchase upgrades such as mezzanines, cabinetry, and stained or coated flooring.

The site will also offer adjacent outdoor storage and dump stations. Condo ownership will include a monthly common-area maintenance fee that will cover building and flood insurance, security, common-area lighting and landscaping, water and sewer costs, and reserves.

“One of the great things about this facility is that it just caters to storage needs,” said Keith Basik, developer and managing member of Naples Land Holding, which is somehow connected to NBC. “An owner within this facility doesn’t have to worry about or be bothered by industrial activity clogging up the driveways and restricting [his] movement. Too often other facilities try to co-locate industrial businesses with storage-related activities and it just does not work. Since we are focused on just storage, the feel of our community for our clients will be considerably more relaxed and comfortable.”

Sources:
Naples Daily News, The Hideout: Elite Motor Storage Coming to Naples
The Hideout: Elite Motor Storage, Website

 

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that self-storage projects are looking better than ever. Customer demand and planning-commission requirements have nudged industry designers to add more architectural features. Following is a summary of some of the trends we’re seeing.

Simulated Brick and Stone

Brick and stone facing are a time-tested method of adding class to any building. Many new self-storage projects feature fiber-cement panels to get the look at a lower cost. The panels aren’t lightweight by any means, but they’re lighter than real brick or stone; and unlike real brick, they can be used with floating-slab foundations.

The panels work best when used on endwalls of office areas. Also, add them to the project’s monument sign to tie it all together.

Varied Rooflines

In locations where the city has architectural requirements, there’s a good chance that a varied roof line or other architectural roof features will be required. Wider buildings (and strip malls) often use a parapet wall to provide visual mass and a location for a sign. Varying the height and material of the parapet can add a vertical element to an otherwise bland building shape. These techniques work well on buildings with low-pitched rooftops.

Decorative elements on a higher pitched roof can also add visual interest. Hipped roofs, dormers, varied heights and cupolas are traditional methods of adding curb appeal.

Insulating Materials

Energy code can be another consideration in architectural design. Rather than apply insulating-foam panels and then architectural panels, consider insulated panels. The interlocking panels are available in a variety of textures, ranging from smooth to simulated stucco.

Big Windows

Beautiful commercial-grade windows are showing up frequently in storage projects. A building entry or breezeway equipped with big windows is the ideal location for an automated kiosk. The high visibility helps eliminate hiding places and makes the area feel more secure, while also making the kiosk obvious to new customers. Expansive windows also add light and a spacious feeling inside the office.

Modern climate-controlled facilities frequently use large banks of windows to make the interior doors visible from the street, particularly when local regulations otherwise require doors be hidden from view. Combined with 24-hour lighting, doors behind windows give you great visibility.

Commanding Towers

Corner towers remain a popular design element in larger and more upscale self-storage projects. Some towers contain a lit wall of doors behind glass, while other facilities choose to keep it subtler with a clock or sign. This structure adds visual interest, and can also help the site stand out since single-story properties tend to have few tall elements.

Stylish Offices

Not all self-storage properties have a management office, but those that do are taking it the next level with high-end wood work, fireplaces and comfortable waiting areas. High ceilings, high-quality flooring and granite countertops at the rental desk are creating a more upscale feeling at many new facilities.

Lush Landscaping

Many newer properties use landscaping as a way to improve curb appeal. Consider planting areas with stone instead of organic material mulch to reduce maintenance, and add plants and flowers that come back yearly. Think about the full height of trees and shrubs when planning, and try to include them without creating a situation in which gutters or drains will be overwhelmed with leaves and debris.

In northern climates, you also need to consider where snow will be deposited. Leave adequate room for the piles, and make sure it doesn’t encroach on your landscaping.

Perimeter Plans

Not every site will have a fence and gate. In some cases, these are costly items that simply don’t make it into the first phase. In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to see chain-link fencing and barbed wire around a facility. Today, developers are more likely to build in better locations where this isn’t acceptable.

Chain link may still be used in less visible areas, but often it will be in a black finish for better appearance. Low-maintenance black-aluminum pickets are an attractive option. Corner posts of brick or block can make the fence even more upscale.

These are just a few of the most common design elements we’re seeing in new projects. Many of these ideas aren’t unique to self-storage. For inspiration on your project, take a close look at new commercial properties, such as hotels, retail and professional offices, for ideas you can adapt.

As you plan your facility, consider not only how the custom features will impact your budget, but how they could affect your timeline. Consult your building manufacturer early in the design process to discuss which features can easily be integrated into a building compared to those that may require some custom engineering or outside architectural assistance.

Steve Hajewski is the marketing manager at Trachte Building Systems, which designs, manufactures and erects a full line of pre-engineered and customized steel self-storage systems, including single- and multi-story, portable storage, interior partition and corridor, and canopy boat/RV. He also owns a self-storage facility in Wisconsin and is a frequent contributor on Self-Storage Talk, the industry's largest online community. For more information, call 800.356.5824; visit www.trachte.com. 

Self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) Life Storage Inc. has named CEO David Rogers to its board of directors and appointed Dana Hamilton and Edward Pettinella as independent board members. The moves coincide with the retirement of co-founders Robert J. Attea and Kenneth F. Myszka from the board and are part of an initiative to increase independence and diversity in company governance, according to a press release. The board appointments of Hamilton, Pettinella and Rogers are effective immediately.

Hamilton and Pettinella join the board as part of an agreement with Land & Buildings Investment Management LLC, which owns 1.8 percent of outstanding Life Storage shares.

Hamilton has a financial and analytical background, focused on real estate investing and operation. Her experience in the real estate industry includes being a partner at Pretium Partners LLC and the roles of president of European operations and executive vice president of national operations at Archstone. She also was a director at FelCor Lodging Trust Inc.

Pettinella’s career has focused on banking and real estate. His real estate experience includes stints as director, president and CEO of Home Properties Inc., an apartment REIT. He also previously served as president of Charter One Bank of New York and executive vice president of Charter One Financial Inc.

Rogers has been CEO since 2012. He served as the company’s chief financial officer and secretary from 1995 to 2012. He’s been with the company since 1984.

Attea and Myszka have been instrumental in growing the Life Storage business. Attea has been board chair since 1995 and served as CEO from March 1997 to February 2012. Myszka currently serves as president. He’s been a director since 1995 and served as chief operating officer from March 1997 to January 2015. As part of the company’s multi-year succession plan, Myszka will remain part of business operation through this year, when his employment agreement expires, the release stated.

"On behalf of the entire board, I thank Bob and Ken for their exceptional leadership and innumerable contributions to Life Storage over the past 35 years," said Stephen R. Rusmisel, the board’s lead independent director. "Since Bob and Ken co-founded the company in 1982, Life Storage has grown from a single property to one of the country’s largest public self-storage companies, with more than 1,600 employees and 700 self-storage facilities across 28 states. Their dedication to Life Storage and its shareholders has earned the admiration of our entire company, and we wish them all the best.”

The board also elected Mark G. Barberio as the company’s non-executive chairman, effective after the 2018 annual meeting. Barberio has served on the Life Storage board since 2015 and has more than 20 years of senior management and board experience in a variety of industries.

Hamilton will serve as a member of the board’s Audit Committee, while Pettinella will serve on the Nominating and Governance Committee. The additions of Hamilton, Pettinella and Rogers to the board means the governing group will temporarily comprise 10 directors, seven of whom are independent. Following the departure of Attea and Myszka, the board will have eight directors, seven of whom are independent.

Following the annual meeting, Carol Hansell will become chair of the nominating and governance committee, and Arthur Havener will lead the audit committee. Rusmisel will continue to serve as chair of the compensation committee.

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

Source:
BusinessWire, Life Storage Inc. Announces Changes to the Board of Directors

Update 3/19/18 – Hampshire Real Estate has opened its latest self-storage facility in Carteret. The property at 6640 Industrial Highway comprises 784 units. It offers after-hours electronic access, two elevators and three off-loading areas. Last week’s opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included the mayor as well as officials from Extra Space, Hollister Construction Services LLC and SNS Architects & Engineering PC, according to a press release.

“We’ve come a long way from the old self-storage model of three walls and a garage door,” said James E. Hanson II, president and CEO of The Hampshire Cos. “The industry has certainly changed, but our formula for success has remained the same. We search for underserved residential areas with a high barrier to entry, and leverage the experience of our team and our project partners to execute our vision. Carteret, under the leadership of Mayor Reiman and the Borough Council, has been a great community to work with to create projects like the Carteret self-storage facility that took a former Brownfield site and turned it into a facility that serves the community.”

The facility is Hampshire’s 38th under Extra Space management and the seventh project the company has completed in Carteret in the last five years. The developer has 15 other projects in its pipeline totaling $240 million in investment, the release stated.

 

---

8/15/16 – An affiliate of Hampshire Real Estate Cos., a real estate investment firm and self-storage operator, has received approval to move forward with a 96,000-square-foot storage facility in Carteret, N.J. The company, 48 Lefferts Street Urban Renewal LLC, will build the project in two phases at the site of the former Magruder Chemical Plant between Lefferts Street and Peter J. Sica Industrial Highway. Construction is expected to be complete next fall, according to the source.

Phase one includes a four-story self-storage structure comprising 81,745 square feet. The second phase will include three single-story buildings totaling 14,895 square feet. The developer has already demolished existing buildings on the site, which has been vacant for about 10 years, the source reported.

“Any time a brownfield site is allowed to remain vacant it is a detriment to the surrounding area and our local economy,” Mayor Dan Reiman told the source. “This much-needed facility will be a great benefit to Carteret residents. It will provide needed storage services, and it will also clean up a contaminated brownfield site that will boost the economy with added development, construction jobs and additional taxes.”

Hampshire Real Estate has a diversified investment platform that includes self-storage, industrial, medical, office and retail properties primarily in Northern New Jersey. The company has a “strategic alliance” with self-storage real estate investment trust and third-party management company Extra Space Storage Inc., which has been involved in several of its developments, according to the Hampshire website.

Sources:
Commercial Property Executive, The Hampshire Cos. Opens NJ Storage Facility
MyCentralJersey.com, Self-Storage Facility Coming to Carteret

Right Move Storage LLC, a real estate firm specializing in the acquisition, development, management and operation of self-storage facilities, is converting an unfinished medical-office building to self-storage in Houston. The company operates seven other facilities in the city under various names.

The two-story property at 12121 Westheimer Road will comprise 44,000 square feet of space in 345 climate-controlled units. Construction will begin next month, with the project expected to be complete this summer, according to the source.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Houston, Right Move operates nearly 20 storage properties in Arizona, California, Louisiana and Texas, with the majority in Texas. The company is seeking acquisition and development opportunities nationwide.

Source:
ReBusiness Online, Right Move Developing 345-Unit Self-Storage Facility in West Houston