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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

Commission File Number: 0-24071

Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

16-1481551           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

(Registrant's telephone number including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Securities Not Applicable

Exchanges on which Registered Not Applicable

   Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:

Units of Limited Partnership Interest
(Title of Class)

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          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  [ X ]     No  [   ]

          Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ X ]

          As of March 14, 2003, 13,436,617 Units of Limited Partnership Interest were outstanding.

Exhibit Index is on Pages 68-70

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

          Portions of the Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on May 15, 2003 (Part III).

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          Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership") is the entity through which Sovran Self Storage, Inc. (the "Company"), a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT"), conducts substantially all of the Company's business and owns substantially all of the Company's assets. The Operating Partnership is one of the largest owners and operators of self-storage properties in the Eastern United States and Texas. In 1995, the Company was formed under Maryland law and the Operating Partnership was organized as a Delaware limited partnership to continue and to expand the self-storage operations of the Company's privately owned predecessor organizations. The term "Company" as used herein means Sovran Self Storage, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (including the Operating Partnership) or, where the context so requires, Sovran Self Storage, Inc. only. The term "Operating Partnership" as used herein means Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership.

          At December 31, 2002, the Company is a 95.90% economic owner of the Operating Partnership and controls it through Sovran Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Delaware and the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. This structure is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership REIT or "UPREIT." The Board of Directors of Holdings, the members of which are the same as the members of the Board of Directors of the Company, manages the affairs of the Operating Partnership by directing the affairs of Holdings. The Company's limited partner and indirect general partner interests in the Operating Partnership entitle it to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, the Operating Partnership in proportion to its ownership interest therein and entitle the Company to vote on all matters requiring a vote of the limited partners.

          The other limited partners of the Operating Partnership are persons who contributed their direct or indirect interests in certain self-storage properties to the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership is obligated to redeem each unit of limited partnership ("Unit") at the request of the holder thereof for cash equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Shares"), at the time of such redemption, provided that the Company at its option may elect to acquire any such Unit presented for redemption for one Common Share or cash. With each such redemption or acquisition by the Company, the Company's percentage ownership interest in the Operating Partnership will increase. In addition, whenever the Company issues Common Shares, the Company is obligated to contribute any net proceeds therefrom to the Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership is obligated to issue an equiva lent number of Units to the Company.

          The Operating Partnership may issue additional Units to acquire additional self-storage properties in transactions that in certain circumstances defer some or all of the sellers' tax consequences. The Operating Partnership believes that many potential sellers of self-storage properties have a low tax basis in their properties

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and would be more willing to sell the properties in transactions that defer Federal income taxes. Offering Units instead of cash for properties may provide potential sellers partial Federal income tax deferral.

          At March 15, 2003, the Operating Partnership owned and/or managed 264 Properties consisting of approximately 15.3 million net rentable square feet, situated in 21 states. Eleven of the Properties are managed under an agreement with an unconsolidated joint venture that is 45% owned by the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2002, the Properties have a weighted average occupancy of 84% and a weighted average annual rent per occupied square foot of $8.61. The Operating Partnership is the 5th largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States based on facilities owned and/or managed.

          The Operating Partnership seeks to increase cash flow and enhance unitholder value through aggressive management of the Properties and selective acquisitions of new self-storage properties. Aggressive property management entails increasing rents, increasing occupancy levels, strictly controlling costs, maximizing collections, strategically expanding and improving the Properties and, should economic conditions warrant, developing new properties. The Operating Partnership believes that there continues to be significant opportunities for growth through acquisitions, and constantly seeks to acquire self-storage properties that are susceptible to realization of increased economies of scale and enhanced performance through application of the Operating Partnership's management expertise.

          The Operating Partnership's principal executive offices are located at 6467 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14221, and its telephone number is (716) 633-1850.

          The Operating Partnership believes that self-storage facilities offer inexpensive storage space to residential and commercial users. In addition to fully enclosed and secure storage space, some operators, including the Operating Partnership, also offer outside storage for automobiles, recreational vehicles and boats. The storage sites are usually fenced and well lighted with gates that are either manually operated or automated. All facilities have a full-time manager/leasing agent. Customers have access to their storage area during business hours and in certain circumstances are provided with 24-hour access. Individual storage units are secured by the customer's lock, which may be purchased from the Operating Partnership, and the customer has control of access to the unit.

          The Operating Partnership believes that the self-storage industry is characterized by a trend toward consolidation and a relatively slow growth in supply. The rate of demand growth, while still positive, slowed in 2002, primarily as a result of slower overall economic conditions. This, combined with rate reductions and discounts offered by much of the competition, has resulted in minimal revenue growth. Spring and summer of 2002 showed negligible improvement in revenue compared to the same periods at the same stores in 2001, while the fourth quarter showed a 3% increase.

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          The Operating Partnership has made a significant investment in technology in the past year, primarily in its call center. This investment has enabled the Operating Partnership to centralize its sales and marketing efforts and to spot leasing trends and opportunities in a more efficient and responsive manner. The Operating Partnership expects to gain market share and improve the yield realized on its rental spaces as a result of this call center management system.

          According to published data, of the approximately 35,000 facilities in the United States, less than 13% are managed by the ten largest operators. The remainder of the industry is characterized by numerous small, local operators. The shortage of skilled operators, the scarcity of equity capital available to small operators for acquisitions and expansions and the potential for savings through economies of scale are factors that are leading to a consolidation in the industry. The Operating Partnership believes that, as a result of this trend, significant growth opportunities exist for operators with proven management systems and sufficient capital resources.

          The Operating Partnership believes that it has developed substantial expertise in managing self-storage facilities. Key elements of the Operating Partnership's management system include the following:

          Property managers attend a thorough orientation program and undergo continuous training that emphasizes closing techniques, identification of selected marketing opportunities, networking with possible referral sources, and familiarization with the Operating Partnership's customized management information system. In addition to frequent contact with Regional Team Leaders and other Operating Partnership personnel, property managers receive periodic newsletters regarding a variety of operational issues, and from time to time attend "roundtable" seminars with other property managers.

          The Operating Partnership annually develops a written marketing plan for each of its Properties that is highly dependent upon local conditions. The focus of each marketing plan is, in part, determined by occupancy rates. If all storage units of the same size at a Property are at or near 90% occupancy, then the plan will generally include increases in rental rates. If a Property has excess capacity, then the marketing plan will target selected markets such as local military bases, colleges, apartment and condominium complexes, industrial parks, medical centers, retail shopping malls and office suites. The Operating Partnership primarily uses telephone directories to advertise its services, including a map and, when possible, listing Properties in the same

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marketplace in a single advertisement. The Operating Partnership also conducts quarterly surveys of its competitors' practices, which include "shopping" competing facilities.

          The Operating Partnership's customized computer system performs billing, collections and reservation functions for each Property, and also tracks information used in developing marketing plans based on occupancy levels, and tenant demographics and histories. The system generates daily, weekly and monthly financial reports for each Property that are transmitted to the Operating Partnership's principal office each night. The system also requires a property manager to input a descriptive explanation for all debit and credit transactions, paid-to-date changes, and all other discretionary activities, which allows the accounting staff at the Operating Partnership's principal office to promptly review all such transactions. Late charges are automatically imposed. More sensitive activities, such as rental rate changes and unit size or number changes, are completed only by Regional Team Leaders. The Operating Partnership's customized management infor mation system permits it to add new facilities to its portfolio with minimal additional overhead expense.

          Responding to the increased customer demand for services, the Operating Partnership has initiated several programs expected to increase occupancy and profitability. These programs include:

-	A Customer Care Center (call center) that services new and existing customers' inquiries and facilitate the capture of sales leads that were previously lost;
-	Internet marketing, providing information about all of the Operating Partnership's stores via numerous portals and e-mail;
-	Dri-guard, providing humidity-controlled spaces. Through an exclusive agreement, the Operating Partnership became the first self-storage operator to utilize this humidity protection technology. These environmental control systems are a premium storage feature intended to protect metal, electronics, furniture, fabrics and paper from moisture;
-	Uncle Bob's Trucks, which provide customers with convenient, affordable access to vehicles to help move their goods, while serving as moving billboards to help advertise our storage facilities; and
-	Flex-a-Space, an innovative construction design that allows the Operating Partnership to easily reconfigure walls by using a track and roller mechanism, enabling customized storage space to fit the individual needs of the customer.

          The Operating Partnership is subject to federal, state, and local environmental regulations that apply generally to the ownership of real property and the operation of self-storage facilities. The Operating Partnership has not received notice from any governmental authority or private party of any material environmental noncompliance, claim, or liability in connection with any of the Properties, and is not aware of

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any environmental condition with respect to any of the Properties that could have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership's financial condition or results of operations.

          The Properties are also generally subject to the same types of local regulations governing other real property, including zoning ordinances. The Operating Partnership believes that the Properties are in substantial compliance with all such regulations.

          Each of the Properties is covered by fire, property insurance, including comprehensive liability, all-risk property insurance policies, which are provided by reputable companies and on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, the Operating Partnership maintains a policy insuring against environmental liabilities resulting from tenant storage on terms customary for the industry, and title insurance insuring fee title to the Operating Partnership owned Properties in an aggregate amount believed to be adequate.

          The primary factors upon which competition in the self-storage industry is based are location, rental rates, suitability of the property's design to prospective tenants' needs, and the manner in which the property is operated and marketed. The Operating Partnership believes it competes successfully on these bases. The extent of competition depends in significant part on local market conditions. The Operating Partnership seeks to locate its facilities so as not to cause its Properties to compete with one another for customers, but the number of self-storage facilities in a particular area could have a material adverse effect on the performance of any of the Properties.

          Several of the Operating Partnership's competitors, including Public Storage Management, Inc., Shurgard Incorporated, U-Haul International, and Storage USA, Inc., are larger and have substantially greater financial resources than the Operating Partnership. These larger operators may, among other possible advantages, be capable of greater leverage and the payment of higher prices for acquisitions.

          While the Operating Partnership emphasizes equity real estate investments, it may, in its discretion, invest in mortgage and other real estate interests related to self-storage properties in a manner consistent with the Company's qualification as a REIT. The Operating Partnership may also retain a purchase money mortgage for a portion of the sale price in connection with the disposition of Properties from time to time. Should investment opportunities become available, the Operating Partnership may look to acquire self-storage properties via a joint-venture partnership or similar entity. The Operating Partnership may or may not have a significant investment in such a venture, but would use such an opportunity to expand its portfolio of branded and managed properties.

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          Subject to the percentage of ownership limitations and gross income tests necessary for the Company's REIT qualification, the Operating Partnership also may invest in securities of entities engaged in real estate activities or securities of other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities.

          Management periodically reviews the assets comprising the Operating Partnership's portfolio. Any disposition decision will be based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the (i) potential to continue to increase cash flow and value, (ii) sale price, (iii) strategic fit with the rest of the Company's portfolio, (iv) potential for, or existence of, environmental or regulatory issues, (v) alternative uses of capital, and (vi) maintaining of the Company's qualification as a REIT.

          As part of an asset management program, the Operating Partnership has begun to "spin-off" non-core, slow-growth properties, into joint ventures. In cases where the Operating Partnership has a less than 50% ownership interest in a joint venture, the Properties of that joint venture are removed from the Operating Partnership's balance sheet and an investment in the joint venture is recorded. The Operating Partnership records only its percentage share of the operating results of unconsolidated joint ventures. These ventures may allow the Operating Partnership to i) increase incremental revenues through management fees, ii) provide strong returns on its equity in the joint venture, and iii) increase liquidity to allow redeployment of equity to repay debt, acquire stock, or buy higher growth properties. In 2000, the Operating Partnership sold seven facilities for approximately $20 million to an unconsolidated joint venture in which the Operating P artnership retained a 45% interest. In cases where the Operating Partnership is deemed to have greater than a 50% ownership interest, the joint venture is consolidated with the Operating Partnership's financial statements and a minority interest is recorded on the balance sheet and statement of operations for the portion of the joint venture not owned by the Operating Partnership.

          The Board of Directors of the Company currently limits the amount of debt that may be incurred by the Company to less than 50% of the sum of market value of the issued and outstanding Common and Preferred Stock plus the Company's debt (Market Capitalization). The Company, however, may from time to time re-evaluate and modify its borrowing policy in light of then current economic conditions, relative costs of debt and equity capital, market values of properties, growth and acquisition opportunities and other factors.

In February 2002, the consolidated joint venture (Locke Sovran II, LLC) entered into a mortgage note of $48 million. The note is secured by the 27 properties owned by the joint venture with a cost of $79 million. The 10-year note bears interest at 7.19%. The Operating Partnership also repaid a $30 million 1 year term note that matured in 2002.

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          To the extent that the Operating Partnership desires to obtain additional capital to pay distributions, to provide working capital, to pay existing indebtedness or to finance acquisitions, expansions or development of new properties, the Operating Partnership may utilize floating or fixed rate debt financing, retention of cash flow (subject to satisfying the Company's distribution requirements under the REIT rules) or a combination of these methods. Additional debt financing may also be obtained through mortgages on its Properties, which may be recourse, non-recourse, or cross-collateralized and may contain cross-default provisions. The Operating Partnership has not established any limit on the number or amount of mortgages that may be placed on any single Property or on its portfolio as a whole. For additional information regarding borrowings, see Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operati ons - Liquidity and Capital Resources" and Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements filed herewith.

          The Operating Partnership currently employs a total of 727 employees, including 264 Property Managers, 16 Regional Team Leaders, and 355 assistant managers and part-time employees. At the Operating Partnership's headquarters, in addition to its three executive officers, the Operating Partnership employs 89 people engaged in various support activities, such as accounting, customer care, and management information systems. None of the Operating Partnership's employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The Operating Partnership considers its employee relations to be excellent.

Available Information

          The Operating Partnership files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission quarterly and annual reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, respectively, current reports on Form 8-K, and proxy statements pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in addition to other information as required. The public may read and copy any materials that the Operating Partnership files with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1 (800) SEC-0330.  The Operating Partnership files this information with the SEC electronically, and the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Operating Partnership also maintains a web site at http://www.sovr anss.com.

          At December 31, 2002, the Operating Partnership owned and/or managed a total of 264 Properties situated in twenty-one states in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, Arizona and Texas. Eleven of the Properties are managed under an agreement with an unconsolidated joint venture that is 45% owned by the Operating Partnership.

          The Operating Partnership's self-storage facilities offer inexpensive, easily accessible, enclosed storage space to residential and commercial users on a month-to-month basis. Most of

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the Operating Partnership's Properties are fenced with computerized gates and are well lighted. All but thirty-five of the Properties are single-story, thereby providing customers with the convenience of direct vehicle access to their storage units. All Properties have a Property Manager on-site during business hours. Customers have access to their storage areas during business hours, and some commercial customers are provided 24-hour access. Individual storage units are secured by a lock furnished by the customer to provide the customer with control of access to the unit.

          All but a few of the Properties conduct business under the user-friendly trade name "Uncle Bob's Self-Storage" and the remainder are operated under various names acquired with the Properties. The Operating Partnership intends to convert all of the Properties to the "Uncle Bob's" trade name.

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          The table below provides certain information regarding the Properties included in the Operating Partnership's consolidated financial statements: