A three-story Self-Storage facility is moving through the redevelopment approval process in Stratford New Jersey, in expectation of being developed at 72 Berlin Rd.
The property is situated between New Road and Arlington Ave, directly across the street from the Patco Speedline.
In most recent years (decades) the redevelopment property and building have operated as a variety of auto repair businesses.
I’ve been told that originally it was developed by Bell Atlantic (Verizon) for what I believe was a truck maintenance facility.
The property has been listed for sale on commercial real estate site Loopnet. and in fact currently the status shows as “under contract”.
The 2.3 acre property currently has one larger auto repair building situated up close to Berlin Road, but the significant portion of the lot seems is undeveloped and utilized for car storage.
Clearly Self-Storage facilities are hot-projects in South Jersey (and the US, really). Just along the White Horse Pike commercial areas (which this Berlin Rd is a part of), 42Freeway wrote in October about construction taking place on a 100,000+ sq ft facility in Evesham Rd, and in December we covered plans for another 100,000+ sq ft facility in Magnolia, directly on the White Horse Pike
Stratford Berlin Road Redevelopment
Stratford had previously identified this property as one in need of redevelopment, and over the last few years has been going through the steps to formally identify the property as a “non-condemnation property in need of redevelopment”.
With Berlin Road running along the Patco Speedline train station, it’s seen by the town as an important area for redevelopment opportunities, in efforts to improve the area.
A block away from this planned storage facility, Ryan Homes has been building the 49-unit Stratford Commons townhome development. That property was previously underutilized with three older buildings situated along the roadside.
Building up underutilized properties in New Jersey has several benefits to the municipalities… new projects tend to attract other new development projects, which can improve the overall status of the neighborhood. The new developments can generate additional tax dollars for the municipality.
New Jersey has recognized the challenges that municipalities have in attracting investment into underutilized properties, so they have enacted redevelopment laws which give the municipality additional powers to enact measures in hopes of enticing developers to invest in the properties, and rebuild them into becoming a more viable part of the community.
In its most simplest form the town can define specialized zoning requirements for the property to attract specific types of businesses, as well as offer innovative tax alternatives.
In the case of 72 Berlin Road, Stratford’s earlier redevelopment area designation efforts led them to a self-storage facility developer out of North Jersey, who via a locally based LLC are looking to develop a modern indoor multi-floor self storage facility.
A concept plan for the self-storage facility was shown to Stratford officials, who based on that and other factors regarding the developer, then selected Recreational Storage Group as the property redeveloper.
While i do not have the concept plan renderings, I do know that it is a three story building of 107,100 square feet.
The facility will feature 16 parking spaces and two loading bays.
This project has not presented to the planning board yet, which is still a requirement prior to development. At this point I don’t know when that will take place.
The planning board does have a final say in these redevelopment projects but typically it’s just to make sure no aspects were missed in meeting borough zoning and development laws.
Links and Locations
Self Storage Facility – Planned
72 Berlin Road
Stratford NJ
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