Outside Storage: It’s Not Fancy, But It Works

By Bill Mears 

We talk a lot about warehouse space, new buildings, and job creation—but there’s a quieter industrial need that’s gaining traction fast: industrial outside storage (IOS).

Think truck parking, trailer storage, equipment laydown, contractor yards. Nothing fancy. Just large, functional ground near the interstate, near rail, and ready to go.

Janesville is sitting on this opportunity.
We’ve got the ingredients:

• Proximity to I-90 and served by a Class I railroad, Union Pacific and Class II WI Southern.
• Underused or brownfield sites that aren’t ideal for vertical development
• A regional economy full of logistics, construction, and trades that need yard space

And now, we’ve got the land.

The City’s recent purchase of the former GM property—includes a 114.54 acre brownfield served by two railroads and sitting on top of a massive, million-square-foot foundation—opens the door to exactly this kind of use. It's not immediately ready for vertical development, but it’s nearly perfect for IOS.

Outside storage won’t make headlines, but it creates jobs, supports existing industry, and puts dormant land back to work. And unlike warehouse/industrial builds, these sites can be activated quickly—with existing paving, fencing, lighting, and a lease.

If you’re a landowner, investor, or working in economic development, it’s worth asking:
Are we overlooking the most practical real estate play in our market?

Let’s talk. I’d be glad to show you where the ground game starts.