U-Haul will soon be showcasing its first company-owned and -operated retail and self-storage facility in Lake in the Hills, Illinois after a recent acquisition of the former shopping center at 81 N. Randall Road. U-Haul acquired the 10.47-acre site on April 23.
Adaptive reuse of the property will create about 10,000 square feet of indoor self-storage, giving customers access to climate-controlled rooms with high-tech security features at affordable price points. The facility will be fully operational by fall 2019.
“U-Haul will be renovating a portion of the long-vacant Dominick’s grocery store to serve as a state-of-the-art moving and self-storage facility,” said Heather Skelton, U-Haul Company of Northwest Chicago Suburbs president. “We plan to lease part of the property to other tenants, including home décor superstore At Home. We’re excited to be a catalyst for business growth in McHenry County while meeting customer demand.”
The recent acquisition of the Lake in the Hills shopping center was driven by U-Haul’s corporate sustainability initiatives as the company seeks out infill developments to help local communities lower their carbon footprint. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings reduces the amount of energy and resources required for new building materials and helps municipalities reduce their unwanted inventory of unused buildings.
“This site was attractive to U-Haul because our corporate sustainability initiatives encourage the reuse of large, vacant facilities,” Gardner said. “Many times, when big box stores close, they remain empty and become eyesores. U-Haul is a stable anchor for these facilities and is able to renovate large spaces for self-storage.”
