Plans for Irmo storage unit advance, despite concerns it would be an ‘eyesore’
Plans for 42,000 square feet of storage units in Irmo are moving forward, despite some concerns over how such a project might lend itself to being an “eyesore” in the town’s main drag.
Irmo town council looked to approve a second and final reading of the proposal, which called for constructing the storage unit in place of an existing commercial storefront at 7949 Broad River Road. It required a zoning change. The property already has a PrimeSpace Storage facility alongside other commercial space in a storefront near the intersection with North Woodrow Street.
It narrowly passed in a 3-2 vote Tuesday evening. Council members Gabriel Penfield and Barb Waldman dissented.
“This is not a new project. This is an existing building operation. We are not in the business of telling people how to operate their business,” Mayor Bill Danielson said. “We’re in the business of protecting our citizens from ugly stuff.”
Danielson argued that the existing area, which includes a Sphinx gas station, already isn’t “attractive” and that the storage unit wouldn’t attract attention.
“I almost guarantee you that it’ll be the nicest looking building within a half a mile that’s not a dentist office or a sole practitioner,” Danielson said. “And we will see to that.”
The town will require the property to make some visual improvements to the property in hopes of “beautification” of the area, including enhanced landscaping, building facades and faux windows on the storage unit building.
“I see it as an improvement to what it is now,” Councilwoman Phyllis Coleman said.
Carolyn Stratton, the vice president of operations at PrimeSpace Storage, previously told The State that the owner of the property was looking to expand the business after struggling to fill many of the other commercial spaces in the existing building. She acknowledged that some residents were worried it could be an “eyesore,” and said they were working with the town to combat that.
“It’s not fully functioning at the level we would want it to be. We’ve had a lot of trouble trying to rent out the vacant units, so we ve decided to do something we’re good at and know works,” Stratton said.
Irmo Town Council limited self-storage units to light manufacturing areas, among other restrictions, in 2023. Penfield said before that, storage units rolled into the area like “wildfire.”
“That decision was made consistent with the wishes of the public,” Penfield said. “I see no change in public sentiment.”
