When all construction is complete, there will be more than 3 million square feet of storage space in Cape Coral. That's more than double the industry standard for a city our size. So, why are they so popular?
"A lot of it could be either an emotional attachment to specific items, and sometimes it's as small as it has sentimental value or just because it has a memory attatched to it," said FGCU's clinical professor of social work, Ariella VanHarra.
Vanharra says people hold on to things for a number of reasons. Storage spaces are also great options for those who've lost their homes to finances or mother nature.
“People like for Hurricane Ian, right? Who are still rebuilding and have items. To have someplace to store them," VanHarra said.
In the most extreme cases, holding on to items can turn into hoarding. Tony Reese with Steri-Clean of Southwest Florida says they have about two calls for hoarding cases a week.
"There's almost always a trigger," Reese said. "And a lot of times we see them end up in storage units, and we'll go into the house, and after we assess the house, we identify that they have three or four storage units that are for, full as well.”
However, for some clients, he says storage units can be a helpful tool.
"We can sometimes negotiate to make room in the house. So it's safe for them top live and get around here," Reese said.
Last month, the Cape Coral City Council passed an ordinance restricting storage units and car washes in hopes of slowing their growth. While they may be an eyesore for many, they could be a lifesaver for others.
"You have to understand the disorder. You have to understand the individual. You have to try to understand the reason why they're holding on to the things before you can find a solution or come up with a way to work through it with them," Reese said.