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Clear-Push5407 t1_ja7vcbb wrote

F*cking hell how many of these things do we need?

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Good-Expression-4433 t1_ja7vjxn wrote

We need places to store our shit when we're homeless and living out of our cars.

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listen_youse t1_ja7xiuo wrote

So you can also get behind on rent while homeless

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KGBKitchen t1_jaav9pf wrote

Yup just because you can’t participate in the grand private equity bro siphon via the “joy” of home ownership doesn’t mean we don’t have an alternate market solution for you. Everyone gets to play regardless of housing or healthcare status just keep payin’, these pjs don’t redecorate themselves.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_ja7y3wc wrote

NGL having a storage unit for my shit and living out of my car was an awesome plan when I found myself in that situation. Grinded it out for 3 months to save the money needed for my next apartment and never looked back.

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Mountain_Bill5743 t1_jaap6ih wrote

Modern MBA has a good episode on the economics of self storage and why it's exploding as an industry.

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Sarcofaygo t1_ja8mrbl wrote

I mean the building itself is already there

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cowperthwaite OP t1_ja97sy1 wrote

The building that's there is basically 2 stories tall. Proposal would keep the facade and build way up.

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nodumbunny t1_ja8nrt8 wrote

YES but they want to add height and depth to it. That stretch should be retail.

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Sarcofaygo t1_ja8o45x wrote

We are headed into a recession, I can't think of a worse time to build a multi use retail development in a new location

Also retail would lead to much more traffic in the area compared to storage

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jt_tesla t1_ja814rk wrote

More storage. Just what we need. Not

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mrvis t1_ja86ia7 wrote

The only positive I see is that it won't add a ton of traffic. I hate that it's a BS storage place, but imagine if it was a Chick Fil'A.

That intersection at Branch & Route 1 already sucks - entering/leaving Nikki's Liquors especially. A real traffic generator would be distruptive.

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bluehat9 t1_ja90tmo wrote

You can get into and out of Nikki's from the street behind and it really makes it much easier

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dilly-dilly- t1_ja8lu7e wrote

I agree with you. There isn't much that can open in that spot that would be better. There is already a strip mall next door with open vacancies. I hope the entrance is on Dryden Ln too so it ensures that no traffic builds up.

Right now, that building looks abandoned and is just a box. If anything will move there and make it seem less run down the better.

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bluehat9 t1_ja90rkb wrote

I don't think there are any vacancies in that plaza and it was only built like 3 years ago

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dilly-dilly- t1_jaacuvz wrote

Yeah you're right! I took a look on google maps to see the building and mistook the lifespan tarp as an empty building.

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airforcereserve t1_ja8pn9r wrote

The demand is skyrocketing. The developers aren't investing millions of dollars because they love the storage business. There's no profit in housing anymore unless you build one of those Boston style luxury towers for the beautiful people.

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jt_tesla t1_jaa2q1g wrote

Hate to agree with you but yeah. Developers don’t go into something to lose money.

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wise_garden_hermit t1_ja8fhox wrote

Storing things: gif

Storing people: gif

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gusterfell t1_jaa6ati wrote

I semi-seriously wonder how long it will be before we start seeing some of these self-storage complexes getting converted into bargain-basement housing.

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wise_garden_hermit t1_jacp7hr wrote

I have to imagine that retrofitting these buildings would cost way more than just tearing it down and building something else.

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KGBKitchen t1_jaavnqk wrote

Hold on while I create a pivot table to check the ROI…

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Comet_Empire t1_ja8cptj wrote

Another one? The old Ann and Hope in Warwick is also becoming a storage complex. Soon R.I. will be just dollar stores, auto parts places, and storage buildings.

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kickstand t1_jaa57gz wrote

You forgot parking lots. And empty vacant lots.

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cowperthwaite OP t1_ja8duf8 wrote

Link, requires sub:

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/08/27/u-haul-turn-ann-hope-complex-warwick-ri-into-self-storage-center-approval-zoning-board-samuel-chase/7903273001/

>The Warwick Zoning Board of Review approved a special permit earlier this month to turn the complex into a 1,600-unit self-storage space run by U-Haul, along with a retail showroom, truck and equipment rentals and a space for the company to perform maintenance on its vehicle and trucks.

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TheSausageFattener t1_jaa67cz wrote

This headline is the biggest fucking blueball bonanza I've ever read.

"Providence approves" - Yes?

"5-story" - YES?

"1,400 unit" - YESSSS?????

"self-storage complex" - Fuck you, developer

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Fishareboney t1_ja9v0ko wrote

Jesus. The first part had me like “yay more housi…” then I see the rest and I’m like “really?! Storage?”

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nathanaz t1_jaa78p5 wrote

Unless self-storage is a colloquialism for single person apartments, this seems like a bad idea

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justincase1021 t1_ja9eyns wrote

I know people live in the storage unit that I use by the main post office.

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cowperthwaite OP t1_ja7tsyy wrote

>PROVIDENCE − A plan for a hulking 1,400-unit, five-story self-storage complex off Branch Avenue received initial approval from the City Plan Commission on Tuesday night, drawing praise for maintaining the brick façade of the building.

>Attorney Joseph Brennan said the site, 50 Branch Ave., was chosen by developer Trunk Space LLC of Quincy, Massachusetts, because of the location. The biggest neighbors are the North Burial Ground, the Dryden Mill strip mall and other businesses. No one lives nearby. The location also means high visibility on Branch Avenue and Route 95.

...

>No one from the public commented on the proposed project.

>Brennan said it was "rare" for no neighbors to show up to a proposed self-storage development, especially since it was the subject of a Providence Journal article before the meeting.

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Status_Silver_5114 t1_ja83duv wrote

"No one lives nearby" seems a bit odd since it's spitting distance of Duncan/Cypress/Abbott etc. What a terrible waste of space. There's literally a huge storage complex over by the Post Office.

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GotenRocko t1_ja8o675 wrote

I used to live on Duncan, this is the old board of elections building and right next to nikkis. North main Street really does separate the two sides though, even though we would want to walk sometimes to the old bennys or Nikki's we would rather drive since it was safer.

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KeepYrGlitterDry t1_ja9q4f8 wrote

We need more storage units like we need more AirBnbs.

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katieleehaw t1_ja9qv9x wrote

What are people storing? I see so many of these damn places! When I run out of space I just get rid of stuff.

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Fishareboney t1_ja9v8hg wrote

My aunt had a nice home once. Then my uncle passed away and her idea of downsizing was to move somewhere smaller and keep everything that was in her big house and just move it into 4 storage units.

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kickstand t1_jaa565w wrote

That's basically going to be half the downtown of American cities soon ... self-storage units and parking lots (car storage units).

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lateroundpick t1_ja9qn7i wrote

I think Providence need more dollar value, stores and storage units😞

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DiegoForAllNeighbors t1_jaa6mp3 wrote

Pay attention to local elections folks… where decisions actually get made…. Biggest illusion out there is that federal government impacts our life the most hence deserves all the coverage and dollars… didn’t always used to be like that either…

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total_life_forever t1_jaanlj2 wrote

Feel like one of the reasons why these have become popular to develop is because there are presumably no employees so no cost of labor, no risk of unionizing...

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ynwp t1_ja8pf2y wrote

Storage gets expensive.

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nostragram t1_ja9609k wrote

50 Branch Ave is the RI Board of Elections administrative offices. Where’s that going?

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cowperthwaite OP t1_ja97m0g wrote

From the article,

>The state sold the brick building at 50 Branch Ave. in 2020 after the Board of Elections decamped for a larger new home in an industrial park in suburban Cranston.

Link in article goes here:

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/09/28/feds-ri-board-of-elections-will-make-new-hq-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities/114157438/

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nostragram t1_ja9cszg wrote

I dont have a subscription to projo. Thanks for the juicy tidbits.

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camSchlong t1_jabqhyp wrote

what a great use of buildings and land- a "storage center". Right there behind a pawn shop or parking lot...kudos

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lateroundpick t1_ja9qjnd wrote

Another lovely addition to the city❤️just like all the red and green paint on the downtown streets, massive amount of speed bumps, and endless number of bike lanes that don't get used.

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