Is Self Storage Next For the Georgetown Mall?

• October 26, 2021

by Nena Perry-Brown

It seems that the owners of the Georgetown Park Mall have other plans in the works while a proposal to convert some of the retail space into residential micro-units remains under review.

Jamestown has applied for a special exception to convert one of the below-grade tenant spaces at the mall into a self-storage facility. Although the site is zoned for mixed-use, self-storage is considered a production, distribution and repair (PDR) use permitted only by special exception in those particular zones.

The 8,000 square foot space would contain about 125 self-storage units. The units will be publicly available for lease and are intended for smaller and seasonal loads of items rather than furniture. Unit lessees will access the space from the loading dock, which has elevators directly to the space, or through the below-grade parking garage.

"The proposed use is much more compatible with the below-grade tenant space that receives no daylight, and is thus less desirable for other types of uses – e.g., retail and service," the application explains. "Indeed, the Applicant has experienced great difficulty in leasing the subject tenant space and in fact, it has never been leased under the Applicant’s ownership. Nonetheless, the proposed self-storage establishment is a much better fit for the space given the facility’s character and intended purpose – i.e., privacy and secure storage of personal property."

A zoning hearing has not yet been scheduled. Similarly, The Mall at Prince George's recently also got zoning approval to construct a below-grade self-storage facility.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/is-self-storage-next-for-the-georgetown-mall/18873