For those wondering about earth being moved and silt fences in place at Charles Pointe near the intersection of Jerry Dove Drive and State Route 131, it’s the latest project taking place at the development.

 

Recently, a grading and infrastructure permit was issued to Smart Storage for $233,550. The work is being done as listed at 61 Daniel Lane, which is the same road that leads to the House of Fashion building at the development.

 

The work is being done to facilitate the new business - Smart Storage. As the name implies, Smart Storage will consist of more than 250 storage units at the location. The entire project, according to an official with Genesis Partners – the developers of Charles Pointe and who will oversee this project – is $1.5 million. That total does not include the value of the land.

 

“Once nice thig about being the master developer of the property here is that we see people constantly that want to come in and build here and we get to ask about their many needs. One of the biggest things we’ve heard has been storage units,” said Charles Pointe Executive Director of Development Mark Dellana.

 

The number in the 250-plus range isn’t an arbitrary one. Dellana said storage units being built is based on “rules of thumb” that are followed by looking at the community.

 

“I believe the concept is for every 20 housing units there should be one storage unit and for every 10 apartments there should be a storage unit,” said Dellana. “ … We’re meeting a need and taking advantage of the growth we have in the area.”

 

Dellana said the need isn’t just from those businesses and groups he meets with as part of his job. He said there are plenty of others situated within the development – including under the Charles Pointe and Genesis Partners umbrella – that will benefit.

 

“I’ve heard the need from the residents in our houses and condos. Our hotel group tells us they need storage for linens, cots, televisions, replacement parts and things of that nature. We have Mia Margherita actually storing coal for their restaurant in other units,” said Dellana. “We need it for those uses and even our own office uses. With office rent high, you don’t want to utilize significant space for storage. That’s not a good use of your dollars.”

 

To help meet the need, Dellana said there will be 105 standard, roll-up door, non-heated storage units of varying sizes. There will also be 151 climate controlled units for individuals or businesses that require the storage of items that are affected by heat and cold.

 

The units will be on a four-acre site that is currently being cleared. Of that acreage, the units will occupy 2.75 acres. Site work plans were done by Civil Environmental Consultants (CEC), which is an engineering company that has an office at the Charles Pointe development.

 

At the present time, as land is being cleared, Dellana said the design is being done with a manufacturer of the buildings out of Western, Pa. Dellana said. If all goes as planned, Dellana said they hope to have units available this summer.

 

“We’ll know better in a couple of weeks with an exact time line; and we may possibly have the building permit (this coming) week. They’re relatively simple buildings that will sit on a concrete slab that require a little more involvement on the climate-controlled units,” said Dellana. “They’re like erector sets.

 

“The big thing is that it’s ‘smart storage’ for a reason. We know there are units here and in other places, so we’ll try to be a little bit different as this moves forward,” he continued. “We’ll handle the security end and make sure everything is in order and grow from there.”

 

Once plans are submitted to the city and application for a building permit is put forth, Bridgeport Community Development Director Randy Spellman said that it doesn’t require review by the Planning Commission or approval by City Council. The reason for that is that Charles Pointe is part of a Planned Unit Development.

 

“We approve projects for planned unit developments in house,” said Spellman.

 

Editor's Note: Top photos shows the existing work site, while Mark Dellana is shown below.