A 21-year-old man was shot dead by Reno, Nev., police on March 31 at Peckham Plaza Mini-Storage. Two officers responded to a burglary call at the self-storage facility at 1400 E. Peckham Lane around 10:30 p.m. Checking the property on foot, the officers found a stolen Honda Civic parked behind one of the storage buildings with Nicolas Sedano inside the vehicle. Sedano was shot while in contact with the officers, according to the source.

It’s not clear what prompted the shooting and if one or both officers fired at Sedano. The officers administered lifesaving measures at the scene, before the man was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No one else was injured in the incident, which is under investigation by the Washoe County, Nev., Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Sparks, Nev., Police Department and the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office. The district attorney will review the case once the investigation is complete, the source reported.

Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to call the Washoe County Sheriff's Office at 775.328.3320 or Secret Witness at 775.322.4900.

Source:
News4, WCSO: 21-Year-Old Man Killed in Officer Involved Shooting on Saturday on Peckham Lane

Hide-Away Storage Services Inc., which operates 24 self-storage facilities in Florida under the Hide-Away Storage and Xpress Storage brand names, has named Paul Feikema as president. He’ll oversee all aspects of day-to-day operation and continue to play a role in development and acquisition initiatives, according to the source.

Since joining the company in 2005, Feikema has held several positions including, most recently, vice president of operations. Prior to joining Hide-Away, he worked in residential and commercial land development in Southwest Florida.

Based in Bradenton, Fla., Hide-Away was founded in 1977 by Stephen A. Wilson. The company is a participating regional operator for National Storage Affiliates Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust specializing in self-storage.

Source:
Bradenton Herald, Meet Some of the New Movers and Shakers From Around Manatee and Sarasota Counties

Diplomat RV & Boat Storage, a 13.7-acre property designed for vehicle self-storage, will open in Cape Coral, Fla., in September. The facility at 2900 Diplomat Parkway E. is being developed by Andy Powell, executive vice president of Wright Construction Group Inc., husband-and-wife team Bruce and Beverly Grady, who are entrepreneurs and friends of Powell, and Joe Coleman, an attorney in Fort Myers, Fla.

The project is expected to cost $7.8 million. The partners put up a total of 15 percent of the project’s cost, and a bank provided 50 percent as first lienholder. A Small Business Administration 504 loan made up the difference.

Once complete, the facility will be one of the largest boat- and RV-storage facilities in the area, according to Powell, who pursued the project because he was unable to park his own RV at his home in Cape Coral, which forbids parking of recreational vehicles for more than 48 hours.

The site will comprise 86,000 square feet of storage space, including 204 spaces with canopy covers, five fully enclosed garages, and 221 open-air parking spaces that can be adjusted to size. Amenities will include a customer lounge with restrooms and showers, covered wash bay, gas service, sewer dump, large lockers, maid service, carpet- and upholstery-cleaning equipment, dry and wet vacuums, and air hoses. “This facility is going to be more upscale compared to most of the competition,” said Grady, a former mobile-home-park developer.

The facility will also include security measures such as an after-hours guard stationed in a caretaker house overlooking the entry gate, motion-sensor alarms and video cameras. The features will attract art collectors as well as owners of vintage automobiles and oversized commercial vehicles, said Grady, who expects the property to be leased within 18 to 24 months.

Originally, Grady had hoped to build a larger complex, but the city limited the project to 40 units per acre. A second phase to cover the asphalt spaces is in the works, the source reported.

Source:
Business Observer, Developer Targets High-End Clients With Storage Concept

 

The Storage Group (TSG), an Internet-marketing company serving the self-storage industry, has appointed chief operating officer Steve Lucas a principal partner of the firm. Lucas joined TSG in 2014 and recently acquired company shares from co-founder Larry Hanks to become an equal partner with co-founder Brian Pelski, according to a press release.

Lucas has spearheaded many of the company’s leading products and services during his tenure. “Going forward, I’m very excited at the prospect of further growth and success with Steve and our entire TSG Team,” Pelski said.

“This is an amazing time in The Storage Group’s history,” added Lucas. “I have great vision for where the company is going. TSG has an extensive track record of innovation in the self-storage industry, and as a team, we don’t intend on slowing down.”

Based in Maitland, Fla., TSG provides online tools and marketing solutions to the self-storage industry. The company's services include local-listing management, mobile websites, online rentals, pay-per-click advertising, search engine optimization, social media marketing and website development.

Strategic Storage Growth Trust Inc. (SSGT), a public, non-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on self-storage acquisition and development, has released its financial statement for the fourth quarter of 2017, which ended Dec. 31. Total revenue increased 66 percent to $1.7 million, while same-store revenue and net operating income increased 10 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively, compared to the same period in 2016.

Same-store occupancy was 92.5 percent at the end of the year, up from 89.3 percent the previous year. The REIT also reported growth in same-store annualized rent per occupied square foot, showing an increase of 5.5 percent ($12.75) year over year.

Cash flow from operation increased 257 percent ($1.3 million) during the quarter, while modified funds from operation grew 292 percent ($1.2 million).

“With the seven acquisitions completed during 2017, as well as three additional properties acquired in the first quarter of 2018, we have deployed the capital raised during the closedown of our public offering into assets that we believe have positioned the company for continued growth as these properties stabilize” said H. Michael Schwartz, chairman and CEO. “We are excited to report continued double-digit growth in revenue and NOI for our same-store year-over-year comparisons in both the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017.”

After factoring operating and other income expenses, SSGT reported a net loss for the year of about $3.95 million, up from a loss of $5.4 million in 2016. The REIT took in more than $13.6 million in self-storage rental revenue and $145,000 in ancillary operating revenue during the fiscal year.

SSGT focuses on the acquisition, development, redevelopment and lease-up of self-storage properties. Its portfolio currently consists of 25 storage facilities in 10 states comprising approximately 1.8 million net rentable square feet in 16,600 storage units. The company is sponsored by SmartStop Asset Management LLC, a diversified real estate company with a managed portfolio of 113 self-storage facilities in Canada and the United States. Its managed properties comprise approximately 8.2 million rentable square feet.

The self-storage industry has changed profoundly in its 40-plus-year history. From a design standpoint, the past decade has seen some of the most extensive evolution, for a variety of reasons. The business continues to gain popularity among sophisticated investors, which has led to a more educated public sector, which has brought increased scrutiny.

At first glance, this can be onerous to developers, who are already price-conscious. Fortunately, the business has continued to prove its resiliency by adapting to demands. As we push toward the dawn of yet another decade, facility design is finding new and creative ways to clear development hurdles and attract customers.

Architectural Elements

Self-storage design techniques have continued to progress as owners look for ways to separate themselves from the pack. For example, for quite some time, faux units behind a glass storefront have been used for marketing and aesthetic appeal. Jurisdictions now look for such design elements as they grow increasingly knowledgeable about the product. Architectural features that were once thought to be extravagant and unnecessary have become the starting point from which design is derived. In many cases, these standards can severely impact the financial viability of a project.

An unavoidable byproduct of self-storage building is large, unbroken expanses of wall that produce little visual interest. These areas present unique opportunities for articulation. For example, the jogging of exterior walls produces shadow lines and adds much-needed character to the overall design. The introduction of various materials and ornate steel structures such as awnings, trellises, etc., further define the building types and elements being implemented today. While adding visual detail, these structures also serve several functions:

• Aiding vertical plant growth
• Providing cover from the elements
• Housing accent lighting for the building exterior

When applied effectively, architectural features and massing also assist in making facility signage more visible, drawing in potential tenants.

There are other specialized building elements that can add to the customer experience and facility marketability while breaking up large building facades. For example, covered loading areas not only accommodate the need for customer loading/unloading and parking, they offer relief from the elements. Large elevator lobbies serve a similar function in multi-story facilities, often incorporating large windows to allow for natural light.

The Office

Self-storage offices continue to change. With an ever-increasing number of transactions taking place online, we’re seeing a decline in the amenities offered on site. While mainstays like security monitors and retail displays remain typical, more space-intensive offerings such as conference rooms and display units are now falling out of favor. The fact is the Internet continues to decrease the face-to-face interaction between managers and tenants, resulting in an overall preference for smaller offices.

Another result is the increased popularity of kiosks. Requests to include self-service stations in facility design are becoming more prevalent as owners look to reduce operation costs and address the needs of an increasingly tech-savvy clientele. Though I expect the trend of smaller offices to continue, they’ll remain the focal point of building design for the foreseeable future.

Curb Appeal

Regardless of the push in technology, industry statistics still show that many customers are most strongly influenced in their decision of where to store by drive-by visibility. This accentuates the need for upscale design that paints a retail-like picture.

Thankfully, creating visual interest doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborative. Simple building massing and articulation, when combined with complementary signage, can be efficient in guiding people to a site. Canopies, awnings and trellises further exemplify high-quality design and can go a long way in appeasing jurisdictional concerns.

Code Influences

As self-storage has matured, breaking into commercially zoned areas and other “hot markets,” some owners/developers have been forced to adhere to stringent jurisdictional design criteria. Overlays, specific plans for covenants, conditions, restrictions and the like have allowed city planners and officials to be more intentional with development. Some standards (floor-area ratio, lot coverage, parking, etc.) can make a product nearly impossible to design. But while these circumstances can be burdensome and ill-conceived, they present unique opportunities to accelerate the industry into the next generation of design.

For instance, I recently dealt with a jurisdiction that required one parking space per 500 gross square feet of building area in addition to a design overlay. While killing many other deals, this prohibitive code aided the storage developer’s negotiations and resulted in a more palatable sale. Fortunately, the project was able to absorb the excessive number of parking spaces required; however, the design was much more involved due to the rigorous standards.

Another recent project we worked on was in an up-and-coming metropolitan market where the jurisdiction prides itself on being “pedestrian-friendly” and implements standards that make buildings wholly accessible from public rights-of-way. Typically, our elevations incorporate glazing/storefront elements to create a retail feel and break up the solid materials. Often, there are inoperable roll-up doors behind the glass, with space between for maintenance or marketing needs, if allowed by local ordinances. In this case, the hallway was actually active, the doors operable. This added feature appeased the jurisdiction and resulted in an upscale, state-of-the-art product.

While these cases portray the extreme, as viable development opportunities decrease, the push for more pivotal sites will likely increase design implications. We’re seeing a growing number of jurisdictions that require 3D renderings to get a closer interpretation of the architectural language on a project. Last year, renderings were required by the jurisdiction on roughly 30 percent of our projects—twice as often as in previous years.

Architectural renderings encourage a dialogue between jurisdictions, the developer and the designer, as well as neighborhood groups. They become useful in defining the project for the development team by illustrating important aspects such as shadow lines, view corridors and line-of-sight implications that aren’t readily depicted in elevations and site layouts. In the end, they help tell a story that may not be readily clear in standard 2D drawings. They also provide ownership with a valuable marketing tool for pre-leasing.

We’ve been lucky enough to see healthy growth in the self-storage sector over the last five years. As markets are impacted by new facilities coming online, ripe locations will become increasingly difficult to find. This will likely push development into properties that are more difficult to entitle, requiring more advanced, calculated design. Fortunately, there are solutions that enable an upscale, user-friendly layout without impacting the bottom line.

Bruce Jordan is president of Jordan Architects Inc. He has more than 30 years of experience in architecture, preceded by an extensive background in construction and real estate development. His experience includes self-storage, professional office buildings, high-density residential projects, mixed-use projects, retail facilities, hotels, restaurants, industrial, commercial, and specialty projects such as museums and theme parks. For more information, call 949.388.8090; visit www.jordanarchitects.com. 

Officials of Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc., which operates more than 1,300 self-storage facilities across North America, have encouraged company employees to write to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), urging the government to revoke a 2014 decision that made it easier for workers to unionize. The legislation shortened the time between when employees can attempt to unionize and a vote is held.

Since January, the NLRB has received about 100 similarly worded submissions from current and former U-Haul employees, with many submitted on the same day and in the same format, according to the source. The requests implore the board to “repeal the current rules; reinstate the prior rules; revise the election process in a way that brings them up to date in a sensible, fair manner.” Those who have submitted letters include Joseph Cook, vice president of government relations, and Michelle Walters, assistant general counsel, who drafted the sample language provided to employees, the source reported.

“We encouraged [employees] to submit comments, and we circulated sample language,” company spokesperson Sebastien Reyes told the source. “Individuals decided whether to submit a sample comment, write their [own] comment or elect not to submit comments at all.”

U-Haul has long held a stance against unions. A document directed to its managers and posted to its human-resources webpage indicated the business should “harden our workplace against possible organizing.” While the internal memo reflected the company’s position on organized labor, it was removed from the webpage because it was made public by mistake, Reyes said.

In their letters to the NLRB, U-Haul employees lobbied for a minimum 40-day “campaign period” between the move to unionize and a vote. The submissions were provided during a period the board set to receive public comments. The deadline for submissions has been extended at least twice and is due to expire on April 18.

Though the “U-Haul employee comments to the NLRB smack of employee mobilization by the company itself,” it’s legal for businesses to encourage workers to comment on proposed labor rules, according to Paul Secunda, a professor of labor law at Marquette University.

Established in 1945, U-Haul owns more than 51 million square feet of storage space at owned and managed facilities in North America.

Source:
Bloomberg, The Newest Weapons Against Unions Are Employees

Self-storage real estate investment trust Life Storage Inc. launched an April Fools’ Day prank last week when it announced the release of a fleet of robots designed to help customers through the move-in process and provide live-stream video surveillance of their units. The artificial-intelligence (AI) assistants, named “Howie,” were supposed to be available to tenants for $199 per month beginning May 31 through the company’s Smart Storage Smart Bot program, according to a fake press release.

As imagined, the fictitious Howie would serve as an “on-demand self-storage valet and moving companion, standing by until called by the customer via a mobile app,” the release stated. “Leveraging a built-in AI, voice and face recognition, navigation systems, and Advanced Packaging Analytics, Howie will navigate to a customer’s home to box up and transport belongings to and from the customer’s storage unit.”

The prank included details about the robots’ features, including the ability to carry a maximum load of 180 pounds. Howie was supposed to be able to grasp and transport objects by opening and closing “hands” via elastic actuators in its torso. In addition, HowieVision surveillance technology allowed tenants to view live, high-definition footage of their units.

“At Life Storage, we know how stressful the entire moving process can be. While we are experts at keeping your most precious belongings safer and more secure, no company has developed a cost-effective solution for moving day that puts you in control—until now,” Ryan DiMillo, director of digital marketing, said in the release. “With Howie, the days of overpaying and waiting for hours at the mercy of your movers are a thing of the past. We are excited to make moving day easier for families across the country.”

Life Storage also had fun with Howie’s design, saying units were built with two quad-core 2.9 GHz processors, an anodized aluminum tank and a 3.7-kilowatt-per-hour lithium-ion battery, which would supply enough power to keep units moving for one hour. The robots also were supposed to feature a zero-degree turning radius and all-terrain mobility.

A humorous video showing Howie in action was also created and posted on the company’s website.

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:
PRWeb, Life Storage Inc. Introduces the First-Ever Smart Storage Smart Bot

Update 4/2/18 – The Sun Prairie City Council unanimously rejected the Slinde Realty plan to build a self-storage facility on Ironwood Drive. Though the developer used resident feedback to alter the site plan, limiting vehicle ingress and egress to Oxford Place, homeowners still vocally opposed the project during the March 20 meeting.

The council would have violated citizen trust if it approved the development amendment needed for the project, said resident Jim Polcyn, who lives directly across from the proposed building site. Neighbors reiterated their desire for a restaurant or senior-housing complex.

Some council members indicated they weren’t against the project as much as the location. “I think it’s a great facility in a really bad place,” said Al Guyant, council president.

---

3/20/18 – The Sun Prairie, Wis., Planning Commission voted 5-4 against recommending a self-storage facility proposed by boutique real estate services firm Slinde Realty Co. Developer Bert Slinde intends to build a multi-story, 101,600-square-foot storage facility on 4.8 acres at 2750 Ironwood Drive. Several residents oppose the project, arguing it’s an industrial use that would increase traffic and crime, according to the source.

“My husband and I purchased our lot based on the understanding that the empty lot bordering our neighborhood was zoned and intended for residential/commercial,” resident Karli Fentress wrote in an e-mail to the commission. “If the city decides to change this to an industrial zone, after the fact, we’d feel like we were lied to.”

Several residents requested a restaurant be built on the site, though commissioners and others pointed out an eatery would create more vehicle traffic than self-storage. Other residents predicted the storage facility would entice crime and the neighborhood would experience an increase in burglaries. Self-storage facilities in Sun Prairie have experienced about six burglaries since 2015, according to police statistics shared by planner Sarah Sauer.

Two demand studies indicated the city is an underserved market for self-storage, Slinde told the commission. He indicated the plan had been reduced from 750 units to 600 and would include 30 security cameras. Slinde Realty also upgraded the exterior design based on feedback from city planning staff, according to community-development director Scott Kugler.

The project received support from Mayor Paul Esser and Sun Prairie School Board member Dave Hoekstra, both noting the project would have a low traffic impact on the community. “I don’t think you could have a lower impact use on this property,” Hoekstra said during the public hearing.

The proposal is scheduled to be considered by the city council on March 20.

With offices in Chicago and Madison, Wis., Slinde Realty is a commercial real estate and investment brokerage and advisory firm. It specializes in light-industrial, mixed-use, multi-housing and retail development in the Midwest, according to its website.

Sources:

Sun Prairie Star, Council Rejects Indoor Mini-Warehouse Facility
Sun Prairie Star, Commission Backs Denial of Indoor Storage Facility

Update 4/2/18 – Public Storage announced the winner of its “What a Joke!” video contest. Michael, a brand “fan” from Weston, Fla., won the grand prize of $5,000 for attempting to pull a prank on a friend.

In his video, Michael promises to introduce his buddy to the “perfect girl” at a Public Storage facility. But rather than a woman inside the storage unit, he posed a mannequin standing next to a table with a candle and flowers. The joke was ultimately on him when his friend was excited about the setup, grabbed the “date” and ran.

Public Storage received dozens of entries from employees, customers and fans. The other finalists included a group of employees who told knock-knock jokes, and a customer who pranked his niece.

---

3/12/18 – Public Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust, has launched a “What a Joke!” video contest in anticipation of April Fools’ Day. The company is offering videographers the chance to win a grand prize of $5,000 for telling a joke or carrying out a safe prank. The content can be related to self-storage, but it’s not required, according to a press release.

Entries are required to be less than two minutes long and contain original content, including music. They must be uploaded to the “What a Joke!” section of the company’s Facebook page or through its mobile-friendly contest page by end of day on March 19. Public Storage will announce the finalists and post their videos to its YouTube channel on March 23. The videos with the most views by 9 a.m. PDT on March 29 will win, the release stated.

Public Storage also announced the two winners of its recent “Be Our Valentine” video contest. A manager from Orange County, Calif., won in the employee category, while a former tenant from Thornville, Ohio, won in the consumer category. Each received $2,500.

Based in Glendale, Calif., Public Storage has interests in 2,358 self-storage facilities in 38 states, with approximately 156 million net rentable square feet. Operating under the Shurgard brand name, the company also has 220 facilities in seven European countries, with approximately 12 million net rentable square feet.

Sources:
Business Wire, Public Storage Launches What a Joke! Video Contest
Business Wire, Public Storage Announces What a Joke! Video Contest Winner