The Garage Condo

[tukes23]

This seems like a great idea. Makes me wish I lived in Minnesota.

http://jalopnik.com/5491243/garage-condo-the-ultimate-man-cave

[Matt@BOS]

Minnesota? you mean Minnesnowta?

Still, that is seriously cool.

[tgvettes]

there is quite a few of those here in the Phoenix Metro area. I assume that they are all over the place in bigger cities of course.
I live in a small condo so I don't have any garages so I have been thinking of doing this or sell condo and buy house (I would loose a lot on selling condo now as I bought it on the high side a few years back)


Tonny

[nvr2fst]

Thats a killer man cave, great idea on the stair treads to the loft. Looks like the same floor material in my trailer however when wet, beware

[NOT A TA]

They have industrial condo's here in So FL people have built man caves or apartments to live in above the garage area. I've seen some with fully equipped shops and really nice apartments in them. An added benefit is they are more hurricane and theft resistant than regular homes.

If I'd known about them I would have bought one instead of the house I bought. At this point in my life a big workspace with an apartment above would be perfect for me. I already divorced a couple wives and raised kids that are in their mid 30's with their own kids now, so I'm done with all the family stuff.

Since I bought my house I've been burglarized twice and think I'm a target because of the flashy cars. I'm selling most of the cars because I can't sell the house.

The first burglars destroyed the house, and insurance wouldn't pay (long story). Even though I put quite a bit down on the house the housing downturn sucked up most of it and then the unrepaired damage from the first burglarly put the house so upside down on the mortgage I can't sell it. Since all of my "stuff" was stolen I've lost almost everything I owned (except the cars I haven't sold yet). I actually would have been better off if they just burned the house to the ground.

That first burglarly involved a very large truck and everything in the house was taken. I'm talking EVERYTHING to the bare walls including the appliances. When they ripped out the refrigerator the water feed caused a flood, and then black mold finished off the interior of the house (gone 2 months). The only things left were the 2 cars in the garage. Now the house is sheetrocked and taped and is like a half built house under construction. I installed a cheap tub, toliet, and sink in one bath after the mold remediation was completed so I could live in the house, but there's no flooring, trim, paint, fixtures, or appliances and the kitchen and one bath are just empty rooms. Most of the "experts" I've talked to said walk away from the house and mail in the keys. I keep paying the mortgage and bills because I need a place to live.

If I'd known about the garage condos I probably wouldn't have had all the problems and could keep the cars. I got hit again last week (pried slider off tracks)and they got my computer and a couple expensive bicycles for a total of about 3 grand. No personal items insurance since I can't get a regular policy because the house hasn't been repaired from the first burglarly. I forgot to set my alarm when I left for a couple hours in the middle of the day, (not that it would have stopped them since it was a smash and grab). So now I've got aluminum hurricane panels secured by security bolts over the slider. I don't want to live like this.

I think the cars draw interest and the local criminals must think I'm "rich" so I'm a target. I have to sell most of the cars to turn them into cash and try to move or something. I'll be posting in the "for Sale" section as soon as I figure out what the cars are worth in todays market.

If I can figure out a way to get out of the house hopefully I'll be getting one of the industrial condos with an apartment, even if I have to rent. They have heavy duty steel overhead and regular doors, sprinkler systems, alarm systems etc. so they're safer for the cars and more secure. Oh ya, The 14 Car won't be one of the cars for sale.

[6spdcamaro]

Oh ya, The 14 Car won't be one of the cars for sale.

Darn.... :)

[MaxHarvard]

I live pretty close to these, they have a car show once a month in Chanhassen.... lots of fancy Ferrari's, Lambo's, BMW's...etc...etc....

Here's a Spyker that showed up.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4082782239_59ef3e9d0c_o.jpg

[Jr]

I wonder who manufactures those garage/apt deals?

[98ssnova]

I would live in that in a heart beat but i would want a more of an apartment typr instead of hotel room feel to it but that is just me very cool though

[Bakaruda]

I have looked at some commerical buildings in Fort Worth with this in mind. Never seen these before. Man they are cool!

[Warpath Pontiac]

I would be happy with a big garage and a Futon in the corner. That condo is really pretty cool.

[Muscle Car PWR]

If not married with a kid and a dog I'd be all about it.

[OnEdge]

Here is the link of the build of that particular garage condo. I think that these are good alternative to selling the house and buying a piece of land to build a house and garage on. If they had these in the Cincinnati area I would seriously consider getting one of these.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46593

[waynieZ]

I've watched this come together on Garage Journal from the beginning. You should check it out over there. Its amazing.

[GHOSTDANCER]

I've watched this come together on Garage Journal from the beginning. You should check it out over there. Its amazing.

X2 :thumbsup:

[MoparCar]

We just finished the electrical contracting on these:

http://www.garageunitz.net/home.html

North Denver, CO area. Pretty nice. Once you purchase them you can finish however you'd like. Some guys even run small machine shops and CNC shops out of them. Others just a great man cave type of thing. They are tall enough to put mezzanines in for a second floor. Pretty much so as long as its environmentally safe, you can do as you please since you own the units. The next phase of this project has a nice lounge to watch sports, etc. and the final phase has a car wash. Pretty cool. Sort of like having a golf membership at the club for the non golfer car guy!

Wes

[itsals1]

Thats Awesome! I'm thinking I should build one and then rent my house out, that way I could have a shop again.

Travis

[NOVA]

They look great, but I was reading it and the owner who started the post said your not supposed to live or sleep there? ...... looks like a pretty spendy garage/hangout ...... but I'd want to live there!

[rogue]

I'm going to be selling/renting out my house and doing this soon. I'm done with the idea of having a family style home. All I need is my dog, a ton of garage space, a lift, a flat screen, and an outdoors area.

Engine Company 28 in downtown los angeles was on the market recently and now its a restaurant. I wish I would have been in the market at the time or I would have picked it up.

Even comes with its own built in stripper pole :hail:
http://www.eastsidelivingla.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/engine-co28small.jpg

[billscamaros]

i followed this condo thread over on 6speedonline.com. not only is it a rocking cool garage, but the owner has a '69 camaro yenko clone. got to love this stuff!!

[GregWeld]

The reason I sold my last house - one I loved - was to buy a mile away... a nice flat corner lot (1.25 acres) so that I could have TWO driveways -- and be "home" and have a shop (We call it the "shed"). I had an architect do a complete job on removing a sport court and our 4 car garage at the old house - leveling it all - and I'd have ended up with a 5 car garage - but one of the "bays" would have been 20X30 with a 21' peak... The other bays had 9*8* doors - NO posts etc... BUT == there's always a but... the uphill neighbor had a pool - and the retaining wall was going to be about $250K... and for that I got a cement wall.

That was a "waste" to me -- so next I was going to buy a commercial building nearby... this would give me a rental... and I could take a couple thousand sq feet for my own use... and here's where I come to the units you guys are talking about.... My friends finally convinced me that this was not going to work out.... because you are now "commuting" to your "shop/garage"... if your toy cars are there - and you want to drive one - you have to go there - get it out - and later "exchange" cars back to your DD or whatever... add to that - you'd be there - when your buddies dropped your HOUSE... or vice versa... or you'd have to "run home" for something... etc.

I know most people can't do this or have these kinds of choices available - but I still FAR PREFER to have my shop right here... at home.