Renovating a Brownstone Near Marcus Garvey Park? Our Guide to the 4 Best Storage Unit Sizes


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August 19th, 2025


Living in a brownstone near Marcus Garvey Park in Upper East Side Harlem, NY, offers a unique blend of historic charm and vibrant city life. These beautiful homes, with their classic architecture and rich history, are a true treasure. However, if you're planning to renovate one, you know it's a big project. From updating old systems to preserving original details, brownstone renovations come with special challenges. One of the biggest is figuring out what to do with all your belongings and how to protect them during the work.

When hammers start swinging and dust begins to fly, your home can quickly become a construction zone. This is where a smart solution like a self-storage unit becomes essential. GoodFriend Storage - Upper East Side Harlem, located conveniently at 166 E. 124th Street, New York, NY 10035, is here to help. We offer secure, easy-to-access, and climate-controlled storage units designed to protect your valuables during your renovation.

1. The Renovation Reality: Why You Need Space and Protection

Renovating a brownstone is exciting, but it creates a messy and sometimes risky environment for your belongings. Dust, debris, paint, and accidental damage are all common during construction. You might be tearing down walls, updating plumbing, or replacing old electrical systems, which means a lot of dirt and disruption.  

Protect from Damage: Leaving furniture, artwork, or personal items in a renovation zone puts them at high risk of getting scratched, stained, or broken. Dust and debris can get into electronics and fabrics, causing long-term harm.  

Create Working Space: Moving your belongings out clears the way for contractors. This allows them to work faster and more safely, without having to constantly move your items around. This can actually help your renovation stay on schedule.  

Safeguard Architectural Treasures: If you're removing old doors, mantels, or moldings to restore them, these pieces of architectural salvage need a safe, clean place to wait. They are part of your brownstone's history and need careful handling.  

2. Battling NYC's Climate: Protecting Your Valuables

New York City's weather can be very tough on sensitive items. We experience hot, humid summers and cold winters, with temperatures changing a lot throughout the year. These changes can cause serious damage to many of your belongings if they're not stored properly.  

Wood: Wooden furniture, musical instruments, and even the wood in old architectural pieces can expand and shrink with temperature and humidity changes. This leads to cracks, warping, and loose joints.  

Electronics: Laptops, TVs, gaming consoles, and cameras are very sensitive. High heat can make parts break down, cause batteries to swell, and even lead to losing your data. Cold can cause condensation inside, leading to rust and short circuits.

Paper and Textiles: Important documents, old photographs, books, and clothing can absorb moisture from humid air, leading to yellowing, curling, mold, and bad smells. Dry conditions can make them brittle.  

GoodFriend Storage offers climate-controlled units specifically designed to keep the temperature and humidity steady. This protects your sensitive items from the damaging effects of NYC's climate, ensuring they stay in great condition.

3. Finding Your Perfect Fit: Choosing the Right Unit Size

Choosing the right size storage unit is key to a smooth renovation. You want enough space to fit everything without paying for more than you need. GoodFriend Storage - Upper East Side Harlem offers a range of climate-controlled units to fit various needs.  

Here are four common unit sizes and what they can typically hold during a brownstone renovation:

  • 5x5 Unit: This size is like a small closet. It's perfect for storing a few boxes of important documents, small electronics, valuable artwork, or delicate personal items that you want to keep extra safe. It can also hold a single bed and some boxes.  
  • 5x10 Unit: This unit is about the size of a walk-in closet. It can hold items from a studio apartment or a small bedroom, such as a dresser, a double bed, a few side tables, and several boxes. This is great for clearing out one room during a renovation.  
  • 10x10 Unit: This is a popular size, similar to a spare bedroom. It can store the contents of a 1-2 bedroom apartment, including furniture like a sofa, chairs, a queen-sized bed, and many boxes. This unit is ideal for clearing out a main living area or a couple of bedrooms.  
  • 10x20 Unit: This larger unit is like a one-car garage. It can hold the contents of a 3-bedroom house, including major appliances, multiple bedroom sets, and a significant number of boxes. This size is often chosen for larger renovations where you need to store most of a floor's contents or even an entire apartment's worth of items.  

Remember, it's always a good idea to pack smartly. Use sturdy boxes, wrap fragile items, and label everything clearly. This will make it easier to find things when your renovation is complete.  

4. Why GoodFriend Storage is Your Harlem Renovation Partner

GoodFriend Storage - Upper East Side Harlem is designed to be your trusted partner during your brownstone renovation. Our facility is conveniently located at 166 E. 124th Street, New York, NY 10035, making it easy to access from anywhere in Upper East Side Harlem and surrounding areas.  

We offer:

  1. Climate-Controlled Units: All our units are climate-controlled, providing the best protection for your sensitive items against NYC's extreme temperatures and humidity.  
  2. Strong Security: Your belongings are safe with us. Our facility features 24/7 security camera surveillance, giving you peace of mind.  
  3. Easy Access: We offer convenient access 7 days a week, so you can get to your items when you need them, fitting your busy renovation schedule.  
  4. Helpful Amenities: We have a spacious interior loading area, making it easy to move items in and out. We also offer U-Haul truck rentals and sell packing supplies like boxes, tape, and bubble wrap right on site.  

Choosing GoodFriend Storage means choosing a local partner who understands the unique needs of brownstone owners in Harlem. We are committed to providing a secure, convenient, and stress-free storage experience.

Ready to Start Your Renovation with Confidence?

Don't let the challenges of a brownstone renovation overwhelm you. By choosing the right storage solution, you can protect your valuable belongings, create a clear workspace for your contractors, and ensure your cherished items are safe from New York City's climate.

GoodFriend Storage - Upper East Side Harlem looks forward to helping you make your brownstone renovation a success!




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