There may finally be new life for the old Sears store in Melbourne that was shut down back in January 2019 after Sears filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The huge 101,654 square foot building on 14 acres has been vacant since then. Now, a real estate development firm from North Carolina that purchased the property in April 2020 for $10 Million, has announced plans to convert the old Sears property into 750 self-storage units and 240 apartments in five buildings. But city planners and the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, which is near the site, say storage units are not the best use of the property along the commercial stretch of Babcock Street. They say the site should be redeveloped with retail space, office space, and dining options instead. The Melbourne City Council will consider the project when they meet on June 13.