Adaptive Reuse at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Santa Clara

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2121 Laurelwood Rd Santa Clara, CA 95054

(408) 660-3108

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(408) 660-3108

2121 Laurelwood Rd
Santa Clara, CA 95054

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Mon-Thur: 7 am–7 pm
Fri: 7 am–8 pm
Sat: 7 am–7 pm
Sun: 9 am–5 pm

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Adaptive Reuse in Santa Clara, CA at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Santa Clara

Building History

In 1910, Richard Levitz opened a furniture store in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. His two sons Ralph and Leon also opened a furniture store, but in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, with a little help of $20,000 borrowed from their father. The third brother Sam was also operating a furniture store but across the country in Tuscon, Arizona. This store, however, was struggling. In hopes to liquidate assets and raise money quickly, the brothers organized a sale which would eventually be the structure for their future business model. The massive warehouse sale for customers, with the caveat that they are required to haul away their purchased furniture, would be the precursor to the success of Levitz Furniture.

The family opened three stores between 1963 and 1966: one in Pennsylvania, one in Phoenix, and the third in Miami. Levitz began to expand and proceeded to open a range of stores across the United States. The company went public in 1968 and only a year later their sales reached 67 million dollars. By 1971 and after what many considered deceptive advertising practices, Levitz Furniture was profiting roughly 9.2 million dollars.

Within the next year of 1972, Levitz faced increased competition and announced the company earnings report would be lower than expected; the company's stock subsequently dropped from $47 per share down to $33 dollars per share in only 23 minutes. Facing a significant lack of funds to increase expansion, Levitz slowed down expansion plans and began to approach their business more conservatively. After multiple deals and investor paybacks, Levitz traded as low as $2.50 per share in 1995. The furniture company faced significant financial struggles throughout the 90’s and into the early 2000’s, declaring bankruptcy for the last time in October of 2007.

The Levitz Furniture building was constructed in 1968. U-Haul then acquired the building in 2014 which is now known as the U-Haul Moving and Storage of Santa Clara. Adaptive reuse building conversions allow U-Haul to promote infill development to meet citizens’ needs while preserving the natural resources and land normally required for new construction. Adaptive reuse also allows resources to be focused on integrating environmentally thoughtful features into the existing building rather than creating waste in the form of demolition and using valuable resources for new construction.

Environmental Impact

Serving U-Haul customers since 2014, this facility was built through adaptive reuse of an abandoned building. Adaptive reuse promotes infill development in an effort to strengthen communities, with the following benefits achieved at this site:

495 tons of metal manufacturing & transportation prevented
9,893 tons of new concrete pours avoided
10,548 tons of construction and demolition debris prevented

Energy-efficiency and waste-reduction programs at this facility provide the following estimated benefits each year for the Santa Clara community:

5,983,611 lbs greenhouse gas emissions prevented

Steel Production 495 tons (449 tonnes) of steel manufacturing and delivery saved to date
Energy 0 kWh annual energy savings
Concrete 9,893 tons (8,977 tonnes) of new concrete pours avoided to date
Emissions 5,983,611 lbs (2,714,148 kgs) of greenhouse gas emissions prevented
Landfill Debris 10,548 lbs (9,572 kgs) of construction debris prevented