U-Haul buys former Napleton dealership

U-Haul plans to renovate Napleton Autowerks’ former dealership on South Campbell Avenue into a self-storage center after buying the property last month.

Aaron Self, U-Haul Company of Missouri president, said via email the company will convert the 67,600-square-foot building, 3145 S. Campbell Ave., into 722 interior self-storage rooms. Additionally, the 7.3-acre property will have 44 drive-up self-storage units, he said. Napleton Autowerks recently moved to a new $9.2 million dealership on East Division Street, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

Greene County recorder data show U-Haul parent company Amerco (Nasdaq: UHAL) purchased the property from South Campbell Investment LLC in early September. The note amount is not listed in the recorder data, and Self declined to disclose the purchase price.

Self said the plans for the former Porsche, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi dealership represent a large local expansion for the company, which currently has 148 self-storage units in Springfield. U-Haul will move its retail center located across the street from the former Napleton property, though the company’s regional marketing offices, reservations department and U-Box warehouse will remain at 3150 S. Campbell Ave., he said.

“Acquisition of the property was driven by U-Haul corporate sustainability initiatives: U-Haul supports infill developments to help local communities lower their carbon footprint,” Self said. “The adaptive reuse of existing buildings reduces the amount of energy and resources required for new building materials and helps cities reduce their unwanted inventory of unused buildings.”