Some may surmise all these businesses seem useless. After all, most people only have
one storage unit (if any), and car washes are mainly frequented by a minority of folks devoted to sparkly rims.
But local planning experts say the proliferation of these businesses is not unique to Wilmington. It’s a national trend linked to a growing demand for multi-family housing across the country.
Perhaps residents are so conscious of the establishments because they are located alongside busy roads. This preference to stay in drivers’ view is a strategy to keep customers coming in.
Rather than targeting or limiting these types of businesses that are obviously in demand, local governments are looking largely at their roadside standards to combat complaints about the establishments.