Street Smart Storage Facility on Exterior Street in Mott Haven

This is one of a series of articles spotlighting our storage facilities and neighborhoods.

South Bronx, New York CubeSmart Self Storage

The South Bronx has had its share of turmoil starting in the 1950s and 1960s when large parts of the area were razed to make way for the Cross Bronx Expressway. Later in the 1970s, several waves of fire made their way through the South Bronx leaving devastation in their wake. The population declined by 57%, resulting in possibly the largest non-wartime short-term population decline in history. But, you can’t keep a good city down. Today, the South Bronx is on fire in a different way!

The South Bronx is the next frontier for people who are seeking out affordability. Affordability is a relative term in New York City, but over the past couple decades, the population has risen near its 1950s peak. The South Bronx is packed with beautiful parks, art museums and galleries, and great restaurants. It is attracting residents as well as investors, leading to increasing rents in an area where more than three-quarters of the population are renters. As the neighborhoods of the South Bronx, especially Mott Haven, Melrose, and Port Morris, are becoming almost unrecognizable from those before the urban revitalization of the 1990s, residents are beginning to downsize their living spaces in order to remain in the bustling borough.

Despite rising living costs, residents don’t have to move out of their neighborhoods to get the space they need. Our self-storage facility at 255 Exterior Street in the South Bronx offers a place for the locals to keep their belongings that don’t fit at home for a fraction of the cost per square foot of more apartment space.

South Bronx Apartments vs. Storage Cost Analysis

At 800 Alexander Avenue, just a half mile from our Exterior Street CubeSmart, a 1-bedroom apartment rental starts at $2,300 for 770 sq ft, while a 2-bedroom starts at $3,750 for 1,200 sq ft. For that one extra bedroom in an apartment in the same building, you’ll pay an additional $1,450 every month. If you are looking for an extra bedroom as a means of storage and not for a roommate, you could save $1,200 a month by renting a 10×10 climate-controlled storage unit at CubeSmart. For $250 a month (as of 7/7/16), a 10×10 climate-controlled storage unit fits the contents of a standard 2-bedroom apartment (keep your Tetris skills fresh), so you can keep your 1-bedroom South Bronx apartment and conveniently store seasonal items, clothing, mementos, and more. No need to fork over the extra money each month for more apartment square footage.

South Bronx	Rental Price	Square Footage	Price/Square Foot
One Bedroom	$2,300*	770 sqft	$2.99
Two Bedroom	$3,750*	1,200 sqft	$3.13
10×10 Climate- Controlled Storage Unit	$250.75	100 sqft	$2.51

*Source: Rent.com

Here you can store personal items while downsizing your home or moving out of college, as well as seasonal items–like clothing, outdoor furniture, and holiday décor–that you don’t need to have immediately available.

This location provides 24-hour video recording, nearly 100,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage spaces, comfortable work stations with free Wi-Fi, professional shredding, and fresh coffee. Our supportive teammates speak English and Spanish; and, our Customer Vikki1 attests to the great service you’ll find: “I’ve met the most friendly and accommodating staff. They’re professional, and always helpful with answering any question.” At this location, you can buy any of your moving supply needs, and, if you need to ship something, a UPS Customer Center is located just a few blocks away at 180 Canal Place.

Take a tour of this location:

How to Get to Us

This location is at the base of the Madison Avenue Bridge or just off the 138th Street exit on the Major Deegan—only a short walk from Yankee Stadium. For our Customers without a car, the 4 and 7 trains and the Metro Bus stop at the Grand Concourse station, conveniently located within walking distance of the facility. This location also offers a free move-in truck and driver to navigate the neighborhood with your large furniture. Our Customers love this South Bronx store; KaePhoenix writes, “This location is very easy to get to and is super clean A+++.”

Amy S. wrote on Google “First class service at a top notch clean facility. Moved from a competitor to this location just because of how nice and helpful Naomi and Martina were at the front desk. A class of professionalism and customer service that is above and beyond any peers. The use of the free van is also a nice touch that no one else seems to have caught on to yet. Ease of access, close to the subway, with expert staff – couldn’t be more pleased in my choice to move from their competitor. I HAVE BEEN WOWED!!”

Around the South Bronx

Refuel after a move-in at our District Manager Milt Coslit’s recommended spot Giovanni, a Bronx favorite for authentic Italian food. Time a visit to your storage unit just right and you can hit up a game at Yankee Stadium, an easy 20-minute walk along the Harlem River. Nearby Macombs Dam Park occupies the land where the Great Bambino and other baseball greats once played. Besides baseball, this park also offers a state-of-the-art track, a synthetic turf field for soccer and football, and basketball and handball courts.

There’s no need to take sides in the arts versus sports debate because both are located nearby. The Longwood Art Gallery and The Bronx Museum of the Arts help balance the influx of Yankee fans that come to the South Bronx during baseball season by featuring the work of local artists and fostering budding artist talent through community programs. Just a half mile walk from this CubeSmart location is the Pregones Theater on Walton Avenue where lovers of Latin and Puerto Rican culture can enjoy original musical theater and plays.

Are you a proud resident of the South Bronx, NY? We’d love it if you shared some of your favorite things about your neighborhood in the comments section below!