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?
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