SmartStop Self Storage Inc. Breaks Ground on State-of-the-Art Athletic Facility

SmartStop Self Storage Inc., an owner and operator of self-storage facilities and sponsor of publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trusts, has broken ground on Ladera Sports Center, a $35 million solar-powered multi-use facility in Ladera Ranch, CA. The complex, which is expected to open by the summer of 2016, is being built on the last available land approved for development in Ladera Ranch, which SmartStop acquired in 2010.

“We are excited to break ground on the Ladera Sports Center, a premier sports center for South County sports groups to finally have a place to call home,” said H. Michael Schwartz, chairman and chief executive officer of SmartStop Self Storage. “Our main priority was to consider the needs of student-athletes by creating a safe, convenient home gym where they can coordinate their study time and workout sessions.”

The approximately 120,000-square-foot complex will be built on approximately four acres next to the 100,000-square-foot SmartStop flagship facility located on Terrace Road. The project will include a 42,000-square-foot storage facility with approximately 230 units; an expansion of the existing adjacent SmartStop Self Storage facility, a private fitness center and more than 15,000 square feet of office space for the company’s expanding headquarters.

Steve Williams, director of Team Nikos Basketball Academy, will oversee and manage the day-to-day activities of the center.

Founded in 2007, Team Nikos Basketball Academy is the most successful youth basketball program in South Orange County; last year its flagship team won the AAU Division III National Championships. The Ladera Sports Center will be the academy’s new home and training facility.

The 60,000-square-foot gymnasium—which will be open to the public—will have eight full-sized basketball/volleyball courts, student study rooms, a 3,380-square-foot strength and conditioning space, as well as gym offices.

The facility’s 48,750 square feet of ball courts will have air conditioning and noise decibel reduction systems, wood flooring, ceiling-mounted basketball hoops and volleyball nets with 62 to 84 spectator seats per court. Live webcast-enabled cameras will be located on each court enabling parents and sports team scouts to remotely log in and watch games or practices as well as purchase recorded DVDs of the games. In addition, the gymnasium will offer a café providing an array of healthy food and snacks.

Located close to the 241 Toll Road and I-5 freeway near Crown Valley Parkway, the future home of the Ladera Sports Center is within walking distance to restaurants and stores. In addition, the facility will have approximately 300 parking spaces under and around the building with active security cameras and a number of electrical vehicle charging stations. The facility will be available for club team practices, youth and adult leagues and tournaments, youth camps and clinics as well as charity and community events.

Earlier this month, The DI Wire reported on the $1.4 billion pending merger of SmartStop and Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE: EXR), which you can read about here.

SmartStop Self Storage, Inc. owns and operates 169 self storage properties in 21 states and Toronto, Canada. The diversified real estate company focuses on the acquisition, advisory, asset management and property management services for self storage properties, and sponsors SST II and Strategic Storage Growth Trust, Inc., two publicly registered non-traded REITs that focus on growth-oriented self storage properties.