Moving Makeover: Vacant Building Becoming U-Haul at Southgate in Urbana

URBANA, Ill., Oct. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul is incorporating its adaptive reuse practices to convert part of the abandoned Southgate Shopping Center into a full-service moving and self-storage facility.

U-Haul Moving & Storage at Southgate at 2010 S. Philo Road began offering truck and trailer rentals, U-Box portable moving and self-storage containers, moving supplies and boxes in July. U-Haul officially acquired the 5.6-acre property on Aug. 24.

The site was last occupied by Ruler Foods, which closed the location in December 2014. Jerry's IGA operated at the site prior to that.

"This building sat vacant and was beginning to become an eyesore," U-Haul Company of Illinois president Aaron Freeman said. "This is a great location in southeast Urbana. We look forward to turning a dilapidated building into a state-of-the-art U-Haul facility."

When modifications are finished to the 55,711-building in spring 2017, U-Haul customers will have access to more than 600 indoor self-storage units with climate-control options. In addition, U-Haul will offer towing equipment and professional hitch installation, propane and more.

Contact U-Haul Moving & Storage at Southgate at (217) 903-4803 or stop by to visit general manager Amanda Thomas and her team. Hours of operation are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. Reserve equipment at uhaul.com or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL.

"U-Haul is a well-known and trusted name, so bringing a facility to Urbana will be appreciated by residents and do-it-yourself movers in the community," Freeman said. "We will bring jobs to the area while also turning an empty building into a profitable business."

U-Haul intends to hire locally as services expand, and Freeman hopes that local contractors will bid on the renovation work. He intends to employ at least 10 full- and part-time Team Members once the store is fully operational. Learn more about U-Haul careers at jobs.uhaul.com.

The recent acquisition of the Urbana facility was driven by U-Haul Company's Corporate Sustainability initiatives: U-Haul® supports infill developments to help local communities lower their carbon footprint. Our adaptive reuse of existing buildings reduces the amount of energy and resources required for new-construction materials and helps cities reduce their unwanted inventory of unused buildings.

U-Haul is a proud sponsor of the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. The Company is honoring Pearl Harbor survivors and World War II veterans by supporting the events in Oahu commemorating the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. Founded by a WWII Navy veteran and his wife, U-Haul makes veterans a focus of its charitable works and has been recognized repeatedly as one of the top veteran-friendly employers in the U.S. Any Pearl Harbor survivors affiliated with U-Haul Team Members or neighborhood dealers are encouraged to contact U-Haul at [email protected].

Contact:

Andrea BatchelorJeff Lockridge E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-263-6981Website: uhaul.com

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SOURCE U-Haul