Augusta council members are rejecting a large self-storage business proposal at the former Kmart site

Augusta council members rejected a proposal to convert the vacant former Kmart site on Western Avenue into a self-storage facility. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal File

AUGUSTA – The City Council has rejected a controversial proposal to redevelop the vacant lot and operate the former Kmart space as a large self-storage business.

Councilors and residents said the proposed new use would not be consistent with what they and neighbors want West Avenue to be.

According to representatives of the developer, Las Vegas-based Patriot Holdings, the plan to convert the vacant former Kmart building into a self-storage building follows the trend of the nation’s dying retail malls to climate-change to “Class A” — managing self-storage facilities to meet the growing demand for storage space. . When the storage space is full, the developer plans to build a new three-story building on the parking lot, which will also house storage units.

Malone brokers Brandon Mitchell, who represents Patriot Holdings, said the use was in keeping with the rest of the high-commercial West Street. Driving to the site from the interstate, he said he passed several retail businesses such as Lowe’s, Target, fast food restaurants, Planet Fitness, Applebee’s, and UHaul added a station directly across West Avenue from the former Kemert Plaza. In advance.

“Every business under the sun is on that strip, and that’s why we feel this plaza right there, this Class A facility, will work so well with this retail space,” Mitchell told city council members Thursday night. “We’re seeing these types of facilities being built all over the country now, and honestly, these old malls can’t be full, it’s a trend nationwide. This location is perfect for this type of commercial use.”

Council members acknowledged that much of Western Avenue is heavily built-up with other commercial amenities, but said the end where the Kmart site is located is surrounded on both sides by traditional residential neighborhoods. And, some council members said, they and neighbors hope for a better, more walkable future for that end of Western Avenue. They said Western Avenue was originally developed for business before the city got zoning and before that development was lined with trees and beautiful estates.

“The history in Augusta is with Western Avenue, we all love it, so you’re against it,” said At-Large Councilwoman Heather Pouliot. “This was done before we had zoning in the city and we were making a concerted effort to get back to West Avenue, which is especially beautiful in this area. I just don’t think the (self-storage proposal) fits the environment.

A self-storage business is not allowed to be used in that zone, so the business needs council members to approve the contract zone to allow it to be used as a conditional use.

A developer has revised its proposal to replace a proposed garage-style outdoor storage unit in the former Kmart parking lot after council members criticized the aesthetics of such a prominent location. New plans call for a three-story office building with interior storage units. Councilors said the revised proposal was an improvement, but postponed the proposal after neighbors of the site raised concerns last month.

City Council members rejected the contract zone in a 6-2 vote Thursday night, potentially killing the project.

Ward 3 Councilman Mike Michaud, who along with Ward 2 Councilman Kevin Judkins was the sole supporter of the proposal on the council, said the developer expressed concerns to council members about the aesthetics of the original proposal. Michaud and Judkins said the developer deserved the opportunity to redevelop the vacant Kmart building and renovate the property, which it fears will remain in its current shuttered state. The property is located in Ward 1.

By cleaning up the property and investing in the property, we now have someone willing to do that, and I think it’s a big mistake to let this property go any longer because these are malls, brick and mortar stores. Get out,” Michaud said. “I think we have to move with the times and I’m very supportive of Patriot Holdings doing what they want to do with this facility. I think it’s going to be a beautiful place when they’re done and it’s not going to enhance the neighborhoods around it.”

Resident Bruce Holmes, who owns Century 21 Ventures Ltd. Real Estate in Augusta, the company he owns and used to manage the Kmart Plaza, urged city officials to seek greater and better uses for the site. The property offers spectacular views of the state capitol complex on the second floor of the currently vacant Qmart building, he said. As Western Avenue is a major gateway to Augusta, the city has an obligation not only to its residents, but to the state to respect and promote the integrity of the area around the state capitol complex, which also has a self-storage facility very close by, he said. It doesn’t make that complicated.

Instead, he proposed that the city work with the property owner and take the lead in developing 20 to 40 apartment units on the site of the Kemant building. The presence of such customers could draw new retail businesses such as coffee shops, restaurants and health-related businesses, as well as those currently on the site, such as laundromats, he said.

“August needs housing and housing. It can be an economic solution and the answer to the problem that developers are currently facing with the dying square,” he said. “There is a great opportunity, this is a wonderful site.”

But Richard McGoldrick, who has owned the property for the past two decades, said he has spent the past three years trying to attract new retail tenants to the square, and a Massachusetts housing developer has studied the potential of redeveloping the site with housing. But they found it too expensive to make the rents unaffordable.

“It’s completely unrealistic to do apartments,” McGoldrick said. We tried, believe me, we tried hard to make something happen there.

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