New storage facility moves forward amidst concerns about market oversaturation
Two other large storage facilities are already operating or under construction nearby. One completed facility contains more than 500 units with 36 RV parking spaces, while another has stalled.
The Palm Springs Planning Commission unanimously approved a 90,468-square-foot storage facility earlier this month, adding to a growing concentration of similar developments along Gene Autry Trail despite questions about market demand.
1784 Holdings LLC received approval for the two-story climate-controlled mini storage building with 41 RV parking spaces at the southeast corner of North Gene Autry Trail and District Center Drive on property currently owned by Grit Development. The project will also include a caretaker’s apartment and customer service office.
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However, the approval during the commission’s July 22 meeting came amid questions about market saturation, with Commissioner Robert Rotman raising concerns about the proliferation of storage facilities in the corridor.
Two other large storage facilities are already operating or under construction nearby. One completed facility contains more than 500 units with 36 RV parking spaces, while another project at the corner of Gene Autry and Tachevah with approximately 600 units has stalled for several years despite being entitled. Another storage facility — SecureSpace — opened last year off West San Rafael Drive.
“With the three, we’re looking at over 1,900 storage spaces and RV spaces,” Rotman said about the Gene Autry Trail facilities. “That’s one unit per 23 residents.”
Planning Commission Chair Kathy Weremiuk expressed frustration about the long-delayed Tachevah project.
“It was entitled in about 2013,” she said. “I sat on this commission when it was entitled. I remember sending notes to (Planning Director Christopher Hadwin) when he first came in … asking why nothing had done for about four years. It doesn’t look good.”
“I tried to get in touch with the with the developer, and wasn’t able to, but I will keep trying,” said Edward Robertson, a principal planner with the city. “It seems to have stalled a little bit. I don’t see signs of construction activities going on there at the site.”
Shane Swerdlow, representing the applicant for the project that was before the commission during the meeting, defended its location and market viability.
“1784 Holdings does really significant market research and economic analysis to study every market in which they’re interested in investing,” Swerdlow said. “The demand for climate controlled self storage projects in Palm Springs is high.”
Data from just a few years ago appears to support Swerdlow’s claim. Developers went from spending around $1 billion annually on new storage facility construction to $5 billion in just three years, and prices for storage units in Palm Springs were roughly twice as much as the national average.
Swerdlow cited diverse customer needs beyond typical household storage in Palm Springs, including local businesses, community groups, home workers, and real estate agents. He also noted increased demand for secure RV storage due to proximity to recreational areas like Joshua Tree National Park and restrictions in residential neighborhoods.
Despite supporting the project, commissioners expressed concerns about the building’s architectural design. Vice Chair Lauri Aylaian criticized the “very flat and institutional” appearance of the proposed walls and building massing.
“The massing of the building and the looks of the wall are very utilitarian, and that’s not what Palm Springs wants in buildings that are permanently visible,” Aylaian said.
Rotman noted that drivers on Gene Autry could potentially see over 700 feet of block wall when approaching from the south. “The little two-foot offset with the breeze block is not adequate,” he said.
Staff Planner Glenn Mlaker confirmed the project under consideration met all zoning requirements for the M-1P industrial zone. The 30-foot tall building includes loading bays accessible from inside the climate-controlled facility and eight vehicle parking spaces.
Security measures for the RV storage area include camera monitoring systems, gated access, and the on-site caretaker presence. The storage area will be surrounded by an eight-foot masonry screen wall with decorative elements.
The project will require approval from the Architectural Review Committee before construction can begin. Commissioners emphasized the need for substantial design improvements to meet Palm Springs’ aesthetic standards for buildings visible from major thoroughfares.
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