The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has upheld a lower-court decision to throw out a tenant lawsuit against Weigh Scales Mini Storage Inc. of Shamokin, Pa. The statute of limitations for the plaintiff, a woman identified only by the last name of Woodland, to make her claim had expired, the source reported.

Woodland rented her self-storage unit in October 2014 and discovered in March 2015 that it was infested with mice, who allegedly caused damage to her belongings. Though she vacated the property by May 31, 2015, she later was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which she believed was contracted from the mice in her unit. She then sued the self-storage operator for negligence.

Weigh Scales waived Woodland’s rent in April and May 2015 but refused to return her $35 security deposit. The tenant was told to vacate by the end of May.

“Due to illness, Ms. Woodland was unable to remove her possessions from the unit or address the infestation until May 2015,” judge Deborah A. Kunselman wrote in the court’s opinion. “At that time, she brought what was salvageable to her apartment and threw away what was not. In January 2016, after being misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis in December, Woodland was diagnosed with Lyme’s disease.”

After learning in the spring of 2016 that mice can infect deer with Lyme disease, Woodland came to believe the self-storage business was responsible for her illness. She filed a civil lawsuit against Weigh Scales in May 2017, charging negligence, misrepresentation and infliction of emotional distress. She sought compensatory damages of $361.77 and $1 million in punitive damages.

Weigh Scales filed preliminary objections to the case, including the argument that the two-year statute of limitations on claims had expired. Woodland failed to respond to the objections, and in October 2017, the trial court dismissed the case, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations. It also indicated her other claims would have been dismissed, the source reported. Woodland then filed an appeal.

On appeal, the superior court directed Woodland to file “a concise statement of errors” within 21 days, but she submitted her statement eight days late. The lateness of that document prompted the higher court to “automatically” waive her appeal and dismiss the case, Kunselman stated.

Source:
Penn Record, Statute of Limitations on Appeal Filing Gets Negligence Suit Against Storage Facility Dismissed

Real estate developer Sweetgrass Residential Partners LLC intends to build a 90,000-square-foot self-storage facility in conjunction with 240 apartments in Charlotte, N.C., but city staff and residents don’t favor the project. Sweetwater has submitted multiple changes to its original plan since filing for a rezoning change last year. The self-storage component is a recent addition for the proposed mixed-use development on a 30-acre site at the corner of S. Tryon Street and Youngblood Road, according to the source.

Sweetgrass originally proposed 280 apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space. Since receiving municipal and community feedback, the company has made changes to property use, building orientation and the amount of buffer between roadways and nearby houses, said Collin Brown, a land-use attorney representing the developer.

During a zoning meeting last week, planning coordinator Kent Main indicated city staff still don’t recommend the proposal due to the density of the residential component in relation to existing single-family homes. Officials also don’t believe self-storage use is consistent with the Steele Creek area plan and dislike the positioning of the facility in relation to neighboring residences, the source reported.

Self-storage was added because residents objected to the commercial space in the original plan, Brown argued, noting there’s support from the community for boat/RV storage. It would also alleviate concerns about increased traffic under a different commercial use, he said during the meeting.

There’s also confusion over whether a road connecting the development to Birnamwood Lane would be necessary. Sweetwater added it to the plan because it believed it was a city requirement, Main said. The planning department will re-evaluate to see if it’s required, according to Laura Harmon, assistant planning director. Residents living on Birnamwood oppose the road.

The city council could vote on the rezoning amendment as early as September, the source reported.

Sweetgrass has offices in Charleston, S.C., and Charlotte.

Source:
Charlotte Business Journal, After Multiple Changes, Proposed Project in South Charlotte Continues to Draw Ire

Update 7/23/18 – The Brooklyn Park City Council voted unanimously last week to remove self-storage as an allowable use in its BPZs. The council also approved five new zoning districts, all within a half-mile of proposed light-rail stations. The new transit-oriented zoning will be applied to districts along the proposed Bottineau Blue Line, according to the source.

The transit-district vote was 5-2. The Bottineau rail project is currently delayed by right-of-way negotiations. Similar to their stance on BPZs, officials want development that will increase jobs and the tax base, the source reported.

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7/17/18 – Brooklyn Park, Minn., officials are discussing whether to ban self-storage development from its business-park zones (BPZs). The city council conducted a first reading on June 25 of the amendment, which would remove self-storage as an allowable use and prohibit it from being included in new BPZ projects, according to the source.

The proposal is an attempt to limit the types of businesses approved to develop along Highways 169 and 610, which are within the municipality’s plans for a light-rail station area. Available land along both roadways is zoned as BPZ. Officials would prefer businesses that create more jobs than self-storage as well as have a high tax base, the source reported.

It’s not clear if self-storage developers would be able to apply for a special-use permit within BPZs if the city adopts the ordinance.

The city currently has only one self-storage facility operating within a BPZ. Public Storage Inc., a real estate investment trust, owns a property at 8517 Xylon Ave. N. If the proposal is passed, that facility would be grandfathered in as a legal, non-conforming use but be prohibited from expanding, according to the source.

The city will conduct further outreach before the council conducts a second reading and votes on the measure.

Source:
Sun Post, Second Readings of Brooklyn Park's Transit-Oriented Zoning, Public Storage Amendments Move Forward
Sun Post, Brooklyn Park City Council Approves Permit for Religious Institution, May Amend Self Storage Zoning

A mixed-use project in the works for Wanneroo, Australia, has been deferred for eight weeks so the developer, Urbis Pty. Ltd., can work with city officials on the plan, which includes self-storage and other businesses. In addition to storage space, the development on Wanneroo Road will include a carpark, a childcare center, a convenience store and three showrooms, according to the source.

City officials recommended that the Metro North-West Development Assessment Panel, a division of the planning commission, deny the application because self-storage isn’t a permitted use in the area. There are also other issues with the proposal, including inadequate vehicle access, a lack of urban water or a wetlands-management plan, and inconsistency with the state planning policy. The property design is also deemed incompatible with the adjacent Yellagonga Regional Park, the source reported.

During a July 18 meeting, Kris Nolan, an urban planner for Urbis, said the company had spent six months working on the plan with Main Roads Western Australia, a government agency that implements road-access policies. The city’s lack of support came as a surprise, said Nolan, who requested a six-week deferral to address the concerns.

Pas Bracone, city planning-implementation director, said the developer was aware of the project’s issues and shouldn’t have been caught off guard by the refusal recommendation. The assessment panel agreed to the deferral to allow time for resolution.

Australia-based Urbis is a public-policy evaluation and consulting firm. For more than 30 years, it has provided market-evaluation, research and strategic-advisory services to several sectors including commercial, education, government, healthcare, industrial, residential, retail, telecommunications and tourism.

Source:
Wanneroo Community Times, Wanneroo Development Decision Postponed Over City of Wanneroo Concerns

 

Platinum Storage Group, a privately held commercial real estate company that operates 51 self-storage facilities, is building a four-story property in Oakland, Calif. The new Storage Direct facility is expected to open next July, according to a press release.

Once complete, the project will comprise 155,000 square feet of storage space in 1,087 units. The site is adjacent to the airport and near Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Both areas are slated for redevelopment soon, the release stated.

“We see the growth that is happening in and around the Bay Area and have focused on entering neighborhoods that we perceive as solid markets for the long term,” said company president Genevieve Sigmund. “We believe that our entry into the Oakland market comes at a transformational time for the city, which has been characterized by unprecedented population growth and the development of major office and apartment projects.”

Platinum concentrates on entering markets with high barriers to entry, strong demographics, and healthy supply and demand metrics. The Oakland market boasts low vacancy and high rental rates, both indicative of a growing, yet underserved market, the release stated.

“The Oakland project aligns perfectly with Platinum's investment criteria and long-term vision of developing a portfolio of class-A self-storage facilities in major [Metropolitan Statistical Areas] throughout the country,” said Dane Elefante, vice president of operations. “Supply and demand metrics in the Oakland market far exceed the strict investment benchmarks of our acquisition team. We are proud to undertake this project and join this community.”

Established in 1999 and headquartered in Orange County, Calif., Platinum has 1 million square feet of storage space under development nationwide. Its portfolio comprises 2.5 million square feet of space, with a value of approximately $250 million. It also offers third-party management.

Source:
PR Newswire, Platinum Storage Group to Develop 1,087-Unit, 155,000-Square-Foot Self-Storage Facility in Oakland, California

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc., which operates more than 1,300 self-storage facilities across North America, has purchased land in Sparks, Nev., on which it plans to build a three-story, climate-controlled building. The property on the northwest corner of Pyramid Way and Sha Neva Road is expected to open in fall 2019, according to the source.

Once complete, U-Haul Moving & Storage of Spanish Springs will comprise 109,000 square feet of storage space in more than 1,000 units. It’ll offer moving and packing supplies, hitch installation, propane sales, truck and trailer rentals, towing equipment, vehicle storage, and U-Box portable-storage containers. The site will also feature a U-Haul Re-Use center for sharing boxes and gently used household items.

“The Spanish Springs neighborhood is growing, so U-Haul needs to follow,” said Chris Piedra, president of the U-Haul Co. of Northern Nevada. “We are eager to complete this project so we can offer our community a beautiful facility offering the quality self-storage and do-it-yourself moving services that our customers have come to expect.”

Established in 1945, U-Haul owns more than 51 million square feet of storage space. The company’s corporate sustainability initiatives, which support infill development to help local communities lower their carbon footprint, has led to dozens of conversion projects in recent years.

Source:
Business Insider, Growing Sparks: U-Haul Delivering Self-Storage, Jobs with Land Acquisition

San Diego Self Storage (SDSS), which operates 17 facilities in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties, has been serving the area since 1972. Over the years, the company’s managing partners have remained deeply committed to the community with ongoing support for nonprofits and other organizations. Following are several examples of SDSS efforts and how this generosity affects employees and the neighborhoods they serve. Perhaps they’ll inspire you with fresh ideas for your own grassroots efforts!

Toy Drives

For more than 20 years, SDSS facilities have served as official collection sites for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. Last year, the company gathered more than 17,000 toys. It also lended its moving trucks to pick up and deliver donations.

During each annual campaign, there’s fierce competition among SDSS properties to see which will collect the most toys. Staff also enjoy reaching out to nearby businesses and encouraging donations. When employees serve as leaders to rally the neighborhood around a good cause, it makes a statement about the type of company they represent.

Food Drives

This is the third year that SDSS has hosted a food drive for the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “Of San Diego County’s 3.3 million residents, 494,439 people face food insecurity every day,” according to the food bank website. “Of this number, 164,137 are children. Food insecurity means that little or no food is available at home, and those who are food-insecure do not know how they will get their next meal.”

Each May, SDSS locations serve as a collection points. The food bank also hosts an online platform through which customers and friends can pledge monetary donations.

Employees get personally involved in the effort. For example, Benjamin Martinez, the 11-year-old son of Karina Martinez, an assistant manager at the Encinitas location, turned to his school for help with the drive during its first year. When the school’s response wasn't quick enough, he decided to reach out to his neighbors on his own. A member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 748, he dressed up in his uniform and started knocking on doors. He was surprised at how eagerly his neighbors gave to the cause. When folks didn’t have items in their pantry at the time of his visit, some dropped off goods on his porch.

Benjamin’s enthusiasm is contagious. SDSS staff, customers, neighbors and friends all work hard to make the annual drive a success.

Community Giving Project

In 2015, SDSS decided to increase its charitable contributions by creating its Community Giving Project. The goal was to find a way for the individual facility teams to develop meaningful ties in their communities. Each site is provided with $500 to donate to a local charity. It’s up to the staff to coordinate the donation, which includes a check-presentation ceremony.

All the recipients are featured in the SDSS monthly newsletter, which is distributed to nearly 18,500 customers, neighbors and friends. This provides additional exposure for the charity and encourages more donations.

The SDSS teams have contributed to a variety of philanthropies, with children and animals topping the list. They fight cancer, contribute to local history and humanitarian efforts, and positively impact job training, arts programs, women’s issues and more.

As the teams have researched and discovered beneficiaries, many members have become more involved. In the first year of the project, Cristhian Gironas, facility manager for Butterfield Ranch Self Storage [BRSS] in Temecula, decided to contribute to the Champions Division, a local baseball league for children with mental and physical disorders, where he was serving as a volunteer coach. The league was struggling to get organized, and the SDSS donation allowed it to expand and welcome more players.

Gironas also secured a sponsorship for another Temecula Youth Baseball team he coached, the Pony Division for youth ages 13 and 14. He asked SDSS if his facility could support the team.

“Since being sponsored, we have won five championship titles in five seasons. The Butterfield Ranch Self Storage name is associated with winning, but more important, with helping the youth of our city. BRSS now has over 60 customers who are either parents, grandparents, family or friends of the players I coached,” Gironas says. “Along with the sponsorship of the team, BRSS receives the marketing value of being in the local paper and listed on the Temecula Youth Baseball website. The facility received a ton of praise in our community.”

In February, BRSS was invited to attend the Temecula Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala as a nominee for the “Bronze Business of the Year” award. It was the first year the facility was nominated. While the honor went to another business, the recognition was meaningful for everyone, and the BRSS staff received compliments and encouragement for next year’s awards.

Creating Camaraderie

The Community Giving Project has done more than provide financial help. It has brought coworkers closer together, and provided education about local charities that are doing terrific work. Most facilities have chosen a different organization to support each year, which speaks to the dedication of the staff and their desire to make a meaningful contribution.

“SDSS is dedicated to both the professional and the personal development of our employees. The Community Giving Project encourages our managers and staff to learn about their local community and to serve as leaders. Giving back to the community feels good,” says Kraig Haviland, director of operations.

Granting staff responsibility has been the key to success. “It gives our team members a sense of pride in their local community … and pride in San Diego Self Storage,” Haviland says. “Many of our employees express their joy of working for our company because we’re dedicated to community involvement and giving back.”

Because of the company’s strong, ongoing presence and staff involvement, San Diegans recognize the business genuinely cares about the community and the people in it.

Shanna Bright is the founder of marketing company Bright Life Media, and San Diego Self Storage is one of her favorite clients. Founded in 1972, the company operates 17 self-storage facilities in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. Since 2015, it has been named the “Best Storage Facility” every year in the “Best of San Diego Reader’s Poll,” sponsored by the “San Diego Union Tribune.” For more information, call 858.909.0090; visit www.sandiegoselfstorage.com. 

David Allan, vice president of development for Canada-based Apple Self Storage, has been elected to the Canadian Self Storage Association (CSSA) Board of Directors. Allen was voted in June 7 during the CSSA general meeting. He’ll join six others who were re-elected during proceedings, according to a press release. They are Chris Killi, Real Storage Group; Robert Madsen, U-Lock Mini Storage Group; Sue Margeson, Big Bear Self Storage; Troy McLellan, Public Storage; Tami Reilly, Burnaby Self Storage; and Steven Scott, Access Self Storage/StorageVault.

Allan became vice president of development for Apple in April. The son of company co-founder Phil Allan, he also purchased a 25 percent ownership stake in the company. He’s been working in the self-storage industry for 4.5 years, the release stated. He joined Apple in 2012 in a business-development role, helping to grow the company portfolio. Under his direction, it expanded from 13 to 31 owned and managed properties in four years.

Allan also serves on the board of directors executive committee at Huron University College.

Family-owned and -operated, Apple opened its first facility in 1974. Its properties comprise more than 1.5 million square feet of rentable space. The company offers standard and premium storage units, mailbox rental, package acceptance, hold-key service, and packing and moving supplies.

The CSSA is an affiliate of the U.S. national Self Storage Association. Founded in 1980 and based in British Columbia, it lobbies the Canadian government on behalf of the industry. It also provides its membership with education, networking and other industry resources.

Source:
EIN News Desk, Apple Self Storages' David Allan Elected to the CSSA Board of Directors

Though the Denver City Council recently banned self-storage development within a quarter-mile of any regional transportation district as well as suburban and downtown Main Street zones, some experts say the industry impact will be negligible. In fact, the restrictions could actually increase property values, according to Adam Schlosser, first vice president of investments for the National Self Storage Group division of commercial-property investment firm Marcus & Millichap.

“Impact will be minimal, as it affects a very small portion of the city,” Schlosser told the source. “Self-storage sites that would have been affected by this law got in before it was implemented.”

The Denver market was largely undersupplied with self-storage before seeing heavy development during the last four years, Schlosser said, noting the influx of activity increased new square footage by nearly 35 percent of existing stock. As a result, areas within the metropolitan market are now oversupplied. “Self-storage is a localized business, so fortunately, it should be restricted in certain pockets,” he noted.

Schlosser doesn’t believe the new building restrictions will curtail investment. Instead, they could drive up the investment value of self-storage assets. “There will be next to no [investment] effects, but the restrictions could help increase the value of existing facilities, as they create new barriers to entry in the downtown submarket.”

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

Source:
Commercial Property Executive, A Closer Look at Denver’s Self-Storage Market