Stamford UHaul facility remains closed

Operations at 25 Jefferson St. on pause as building repairs underway

STAMFORD — Large posters of individuals happy to be using the UHaul selfstorage facility adorn the wall along the embankment across from Canal Street.

But no one is using its services right now.

Widening cracks in the beige and white bricks have closed down the facility.

Currently, a row of wooden pillars support the wall, part of the company’s construction efforts to strengthen the building and its seawall.

“UHaul of Stamford’s property borders the water between Canal and Meadow streets, and is currently having its existing protective seawall repaired — and new sections of the wall built — to fortify the structural integrity of the store,” said Patrick Keefe, UHaul Company of Coastal Connecticut president.

The city’s chief building official, Bharat Gami, deemed 25 Jefferson St. “unsafe” in late October, forcing the company to vacate the building out of concerns for safety until the appropriate repair work is carried out.

“Based upon recommendation by a licensed engineer hired by the owner, a portion of the building is allowed to have restricted access for emergency repair work and structural evaluation by technically qualified contractors and engineers,” Gami said.

The company has paused all business operations — from rentals to selfstorage — until the appropriate construction and repairs are made to 25 Jefferson St.,

which was built back in 1912. The oneacre property is currently appraised at $5.5 million, according to property records.

Months later it is still unknown when then the facility will reopen.

Keefe said safety is the primary concern for both the company and the city and UHaul customers will be alerted as soon as selfstorage accessibility is restored.

On Tuesday afternoon, a couple drove up Meadow Street. A woman stepped out of the car to see if anyone was in the storage facility only to leave disappointed by the shuttered building.

A handful of UHaul vans, trucks and trailers, cleansed by the rain coming down that Tuesday, stood idle on Meadow Street in front of the moving and storage company station.

“We fully expect this situation to be resolved in short order, and for access to our UHaul services and our customer’s personal belongings to be restored as soon as possible,” Keefe said.