Adaptive Reuse at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Leavenworth

In 1899, Sebastian Spering Kresge invested in his own five and ten cent store where the people of downtown Detroit could go for reasonably priced everyday items. The modest prices were an instant hit with consumers and soon Mr. Kresge had expanded the concept to 85 stores. Even through an era of economic depression, the Kresge stores were able to keep their doors open, selling affordable goods and offering steady jobs. Times evolved and the price of goods inflated, but the S.S. Kresge Company continued to strive to find new models of retail that would continue to provide affordability. In 1920, Mr. Kresge designed a popular one dollar and under store with a green front that would be placed next to the traditional five and ten Kresge stores.

In 1959, the leadership torch was passed to Harry B. Cunningham and he became the president of the company. Under Cunningham's leadership, a new strategy was imagined, that included the modern Kmart discount department store. The first Kmart department store was opened in 1962 in Garden City, Michigan. Within a year, seventeen additional Kmart department stores were also opened around the country. There were also 753 successful Kresge stores still open at the time. In 1976, the company opened an unprecedented 271 Kmart department stores all in one year! Within a year, it was clear the majority of the sales revenue was coming from Kmart branded stores, which resulted in the S.S. Kresge Company officially changing their name to the Kmart Corporation. In 1987, the corporation sold off all of the remaining Kresge branded stores and focused primarily on the bix-box store discount merchandising.

The Big Kmart branded stores arrived in 1996 and boasted a tidy, bright and easy to shop layout as part of the redesign. Big Kmarts also hosted a pantry near the front of the store and accentuated the children's and home fashion departments. In 1990, the new K-Mart logo was unveiled and in 1991 the first Kmart Supercenter was established with fresh produce offerings and a 24 hour shopping experience. In 1999, Kmart also expanded into the e-commerce arena by introducing BlueLight.com which later transformed into the modern Kmart.com.

Unfortunately, on January 22nd, 2002 the Kmart Corporation and 37 of it's subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Thankfully, a restructuring and reorganization under President Julian C. Day has allowed the company to continue to sustain operations at several stores across the country.

The Leavenworth Kmart building was built in 1980 and U-Haul acquired the building in 2019. 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.

Au service des clients depuis 2019, cet emplacement a été construit par réutilisation adaptative d'un bâtiment abandonné. Adaptive reuse promotes infill development in an effort to strengthen communities, with the following benefits achieved at this site: 

• 1 219 tons of metal manufacturing & transportation prevented 
• le coulage de 5 392 tonnes de nouveau béton 
• 6 621,3 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 Leavenworth community: 

• 7 061 934 lbs greenhouse gas emissions prevented 

• 

  Steel Production 1 219 tons (1 106 tonnes) of steel manufacturing and delivery saved to date

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  Energie Des économies de 0 kWh par année

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  Béton Coulage de 5 392 tonnes (4 893 tonnes) de nouveau béton évité à ce jour.

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  Émissions 7 061 934 lb (3 203 272 kgs) d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre ont été évitées

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  Débris pour les sites d'enfouissement 6 621 lb (6 008 kg) de débris de construction ont été évitées

• U-Haul Moving & Storage of Leavenworth