Former Morton Kmart getting new life as U-Haul storage facility

MORTON (WEEK) - The former Kmart building in Morton is being turned into a U-Haul facility.

The company plans to create 750 climate-controlled self-storage rooms to meet customer demand for its services in Morton, according to a company release.

Truck and trailer sharing, boxes and moving supplies and U-Box portable storage containers are the services currently being offered. Towing equipment, professional hitch installation and accessories, bike racks, propane and more will be offered at a later date.

Renovations to the 95,520-square-foot facility will lead to a variety of individually alarmed, ADA-accessible self-store units with high-tech security features at affordable price points. Storage customers will have extended hours access and a covered load/unload area to protect them from the weather, the release said.

“Big-box stores tend to sit vacant for a long time because they are so large and can only accommodate a certain type of business,” said Aaron Freeman, U-Haul Area District Vice President. “U-Haul can fully utilize the space and do so without the environmental impact of building a new facility from the ground up. Our adaptive reuse program is a green initiative that every city stands behind.”

The facility plans to be fully operational by the end of 2022.