Ares Management Acquires Rockville Self Storage From Washington Property Company, SecureSpace to Operate
ROCKVILLE, Md. — An Ares Management real estate fund has acquired Rockville Self Storage, a two-building Class A self-storage facility located at 4 and 44 Research Place in Rockville, Maryland, JLL announced Aug. 3, 2026. SecureSpace Self Storage, Ares Commercial Real Estate's vertically integrated self-storage platform, will operate the property going forward.
JLL Capital Markets' National Self Storage team represented the seller, Washington Holdings, and procured the buyer in the transaction. The sale price was not disclosed.
Property Overview
The two adjacent buildings were developed by Washington Property Company and delivered in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Together, they offer approximately 127,000 rentable square feet across 1,454 units on a 5.43-acre site. The multi-story facility was 93% leased at the time of closing.
The property features gated access, 24-hour video surveillance, and a mix of climate-controlled interior and drive-up units. The 44 Research Place building, the newer of the two, comprises 87,723 square feet and 771 climate-controlled units with interior corridor access and elevator service on upper floors, along with at-grade rolling access on lower levels.
Prior to the sale, both buildings operated under CubeSmart Self Storage branding through a third-party management arrangement. The transaction consolidates operations under SecureSpace, which is rebranding the facility as SecureSpace Self Storage Rockville.
Location and Demographics
The property sits approximately 13 miles north of Washington, D.C., with direct visibility along Interstate 270, a corridor that carries roughly 261,000 vehicles per day. Within a five-mile radius, the trade area has a population of more than 285,000 residents and an average household income of approximately $177,000.
The Rockville submarket is one of Montgomery County's primary suburban employment and residential hubs, drawing demand from professional households, small businesses, and contractors seeking climate-controlled storage options.
Buyer and Operator Background
Ares Management Corporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ARES, is a global alternative investment manager with more than $644 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026. The firm operates across credit, real estate, private equity, and infrastructure asset classes.
SecureSpace Self Storage is one of the fastest-growing self-storage platforms in the United States, with assets concentrated in key urban markets. The Rockville acquisition adds a stabilized, Class A asset to the platform's East Coast footprint. SecureSpace's website lists the Rockville location as under new ownership, with promotional pricing active on select unit sizes.
Seller and Broker Background
Washington Property Company is a full-service commercial real estate firm offering acquisition, land use, development, property management, leasing, and construction management services. The company developed both Rockville buildings from the ground up, with the 44 Research Place asset constructed adjacent to its earlier facility at 4 Research Place.
JLL Capital Markets is a global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers, with more than 3,000 specialists in offices across nearly 50 countries. The firm's services include investment sales and advisory, debt advisory, mergers and acquisitions, loan sales, and equity and fund placement, among others. JLL is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker JLL and reported annual revenue of $26.1 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Market Context
The transaction reflects continued institutional interest in Class A self-storage assets in supply-constrained, high-income suburban markets near major metropolitan areas. The facility's lease-up trajectory — moving from approximately 90.5% occupancy during the marketing period to 93% at closing — and its positioning along a high-traffic interstate corridor were among the factors highlighted in JLL's sale materials.
The deal also illustrates a broader trend of vertically integrated self-storage platforms consolidating third-party-managed assets under proprietary operations to streamline expenses and apply unified revenue-management strategies.
Sources: JLL Newsroom, Aug. 3, 2026