Friday, May 21, 2021

[EXCLUSIVE] Self Storage Facility Planned For Site of Former Theatre

A local developer plans to convert a former movie theater in  East Cobb into a new self storage facility.  A representative of Stein Investment Group (SIG) submitted plans to Cobb County that indicate the real estate firm wants to convert the existing 253,247 square foot former Park 12 Cinemas into a Climate Controlled Self Storage Facility (CCSSSF). The firm would also construct a second 33,785 square foot CCSSSF outparcel building on the 5.81 acre site.  Park 12, owned by Georgia Theatre Company, closed at the end of 2020 after 27 years in business.  

We here at ToNeTo Atlanta are rarely "fans" of self storage development, but it is great to see that Stein will be making use of the existing building.  The repurpose no doubt represents both time and cost savings to the firm, but is also likely to create less traffic than its prior use.  

"These buildings for the proposed CCSSSF business will be less intense than the movie theatre was on its own. CCSSSF uses have proven to be less intense than other permitted uses in the same zoning district."

The Park 12 property, 2925 W Frank Gordy Parkway, was previously targeted for redevelopment into a new LIDL grocery store, but amidst significant community backlash, the project was rejected by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in late 2017.  LIDL did, however, eventually open in the East Cobb market, replacing The Fresh Market in Woodlawn Square this past fall.  

Under the brand name "Space Shop," Atlanta-based Stein Investment Group already operates more than a dozen self storage facilities around metro Atlanta including those in Smyrna, Chamblee, Roswell, Brookhaven and Snellville, among others.  The Snellville Space Shop (2350 Ronald Reagan Parkway) is another situation where SIG made use of an existing building, in this case the old AMC Snellville lanes bowling alley.  

SIG has in years past sold several of its Atlanta area self storage facilities including one that it developed not far from the Park 12 site in East Cobb.  In 2013, SIG opened a new 100,000 square foot CCSSSF at 3148 Johnson Ferry Road on the site of what had been various fuel stations and later car wash businesses.  The Johnson Ferry business, about three miles from the Park 12 site, was sold to competitor Life Storage in 2017.  

The Park 12 site is already zoned GC (General Commercial), so rezoning is not necessary, but the planned construction of the additional outparcel building does require that the company be granted a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP).  SIG submitted its plans to Cobb County's Planning Commission where it seeks to be granted the SLUP with its case slated to be heard at the Commission's June 1 meeting.  Interestingly, according to Cobb County records,  "Commencing January 1, 1998, no new applications for a special land use permit for self-service storage facilities (SSSF) are to be accepted by the board of commissioners." 

Are you in favor of converting the former movie theater into storage space?  If not, what would you like most to see happen with the property?  Do you currently have a storage unit?

Please share your thoughts below.  

12 comments:

StojBoj said...

I'm also not a huge fan of storage facilities, but I agree this repurposing seems like a good idea, and it's right around the corner from my in-laws. I will suggest they sign up for a unit or two!

Ham said...

So, just curious what all these folks are storing? I mean seriously there is a storage place on ever corner now and it just doesn't make sense. Seems like we need more public landfills instead.

Anonymous said...

@Ham - Why do you care if people want to store belongings? I've used a storage unit once for about 3 months. I had a need and it was there for me. If people want to keep stuff instead of throwing it out, why does it bother you? There's obviously plenty of space for these units. It isn't like other things are not being built because the storage facilities are being built. I don't have a need for a nail salon and there are lots of them, but I don't complain about their existence and those who like to have their nails professionally done!

Anonymous said...

More storage facilities is a result of more apartments. More apartments means more low quality people. More low quality people means more crime, trash, decline, despair, and low quality politicians. It's been happening throughout the suburbs for the past several years.

No to Storage said...

Storage facility was the best they could come up with? There’s massive ones all around us on the main roads. We don’t need one taking up a prime piece of land for us locals not to be able to utilize. A restaurant, hobby store, an Aldi’s or Lidl (yes I know they shot it down years ago, but there’s lots of new, young blood moved into the area, who can take better advantage of such stores) are far more favorable. Storage places are crammed. People store unsightly items best left at landfills. These storage places are unappealing to the eye, and they make no effort in keeping the properties nice. It has a jail appearance, which will look terrible in our nice area. Get something else. Many are voicing in our neighborhood “no” to the storage news.

No to Storage said...

Storage facility was the best they could come up with? There’s massive ones all around us on the main roads. We don’t need one taking up a prime piece of land for us locals not to be able to utilize. A restaurant, hobby store, an Aldi’s or Lidl (yes I know they shot it down years ago, but there’s lots of new, young blood moved into the area, who can take better advantage of such stores) are far more favorable. Storage places are crammed. People store unsightly items best left at landfills. These storage places are unappealing to the eye, and they make no effort in keeping the properties nice. It has a jail appearance, which will look terrible in our nice area. Get something else. Many are voicing in our neighborhood “no” to the storage news.

No to Storage said...

No. Storage facilities are unappealing, quickly run down, and are carelessly designed. We have plenty on the main roads not 5 minutes in the other directions. This is a small, quaint area, used by everyone for shopping and dining. Not so someone can drop off and/or park their “junk” so they don’t have to see it, but all of us venturing out to that side of town, will. Make it back into a theatre. Make it into another small town grocery store like Lidl or Aldi. Lidl was shot down before, but there’s new blood moved in since the last 5 years who would love one closer by. Storage? What a waste of space.

Kate said...

I think it's a great area for a self storage unit. But it does make me sad that the theater is going to go away. It would have been nice if another Theater Company could have come in and purchase it or saved it since theaters are going to be opening up soon that was a really good theater and I enjoy going there. Hate to see it go!

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous May 22, 2021 at 1:50 PM:

Looking forward to seeing you on your own episode of Hoarders and your storage space being liquidated on Storage Wars . . .

Anonymous said...

@Anon May 24 @ 10:50AM - As I stated I used a storage space once for 3 months. Even if I had one today, I'm confident I have more money than you ever will to pay my storage bill (if I had a storage unit) and have more house than needed to ever worry about hoarding. But feel free to insult me for using a storage unit if that makes you feel better about your pathetic life. Though maybe you should spend more time with reading comprehension instead.

Anonymous said...

They should have kept it as entertainment focused and put in a rink. Any kind of rink would be fun and there aren’t that many in Atlanta. Roller skating rink. Ice skating rink. Hockey rink. Any kind of rink you can think of. Would be fun!!

Anonymous said...

@Anon May 24 @ 10:50AM:

Looking forward to your appearance on Those With Sensitivity issues . . .

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