Cost of Self-Storage Likely to Rise

John Stewart, a member of the real estate department, construction services group, Cole Schotz P.C.

NEW YORK CITY—In a 47-3 vote yesterday, the New York City Council approved legislation requiring special use permits to build or operate self-storage facilities in designated industrial business zones in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The permits would allow community boards to get involved, and the permits would ultimately require City Council approval.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the zoning amendment into law, as it is part of his 10-point Industrial Action Plan, announced in Nov. 2015. The plan seeks to boost industrial and manufacturing businesses and jobs. The city characterizes self-storage facilities as a low job-generating use of land that primarily serves households rather than business needs.