The Salvage Shop

[thomascreation]

Hey everyone! I'll start out by saying this, after many years of searching for the right deal (CHEAP) I finally purchased a warehouse. I initially found this place a few years back, I even made a thread about it. I passed because the city was all over it for code violations. It was donated to a church, who then spent 10k and countless volunteer hours to tuck point and paint the entire facade. I drove by it from time to time to see the progress, but it never seemed to be occupied. Fast forward to this year, my wife and I decided to start a part time side business dealing in architectural salvage. We rented a small 1k sqft building for the first 6 months but quickly out grew it. I was pondering our next move when I remembered this building. I called down to the church rectory and made a rather unusual request. "Um, you know that building you guys have down the street? Yeah....I would like to buy it, is it for sale? YUP" $12.5k later and I had the keys. I spent the summer months moving our business into the main floor and making some much needed repairs. Fast forward to point of this thread, I talked it over with my wife and we decided that the main floor of the building would be used strictly for the business, but the lower half was mine. So I'm building a general purpose shop. The total lower floor comes in at 5,500 sqft and is divided in two sections with a wall running the length of the building. While I can imaging a sprawling shop, I can't economically justify building out the entire space. I've decided to divide one half of the building into a 21'x35' space that I can heat and cool. Then the left over space can be left as cold storage. Take a look at the progress so far and let me know what you think!

 

[Gigem]

I think two things

1. Awesome, and

2. $12.5k goes a lot farther where you live than it does where I live!

 

[ag_streak]

Can I live there?

 

[MattVette89]

Looks like a great space!

 

[SweetD]

Ahhh, Peoria...been to the CAT facilities several times for work over the last several years...

Great space you have there! Is it south of downtown? Or north, near one of my favorite Peoria establishments, the Peoria Hofbrau House????

Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just awesome, many thanks for posting.

 

[colt zantop]

Awesome building....awesome price!

 

[Richard Cranium]

pretty much a blank slate. How tall are the ceiling?

 

[thomascreation]

Thanks for the comments

Ahhh, Peoria...been to the CAT facilities several times for work over the last several years...

Great space you have there! Is it south of downtown? Or north, near one of my favorite Peoria establishments, the Peoria Hofbrau House????

Good luck, and keep us posted!

It's right south of downtown, so not close to Hofbrau.

pretty much a blank slate. How tall are the ceiling?

The ceiling is only 8', but plenty high enough for the average project. When I need a lift I just head to the college I teach auto at and take a pick.

 

[ZRX61]

What the hell is going on with that strange looking facade on the top floor out front? What's behind it?

 

[thomascreation]

What the hell is going on with that strange looking facade on the top floor out front? What's behind it?

That part of the building was built in the late 1800's. The furniture store that used to own it covered it up so they could put a sign on it. From the inside it has blocked up windows. I'm temped to take it off, but I don't want to open a box of worms.

 

[thomascreation]

Had a few hours to work on the shop today. I'm using a lot of materials we've piled up from our salvage operation. The walls are going to be covered in barn wood and I'm also using an old barn sliding door. The man door was salvaged off a house, not old but free to me. Also, had an electrician out to quote me for putting in a 100 amp sub panel. While out we looked at the second meter I have in the basement. I couldn't figure out what is was, he took one look at it and said "hey, you have 3 phase down here" We traced it to where the old elevator was located. Apparently it ran that motor. I'm not going to use the three phase for the shop build out but it's nice to know it's there for future equipment. The plan for electric is to have more 110 outlets than I know what to do with, three 220 outlets (welder, air compressor and heater). He's also going to wire in switched ceiling receptacles for more lighting.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Nice! I was just in Peoria last Saturday.

 

[JC23]

Cool! Best of luck!

 

[minimowog]

This building looks awesome, think i'd live upstairs and the downstairs would be the garage

 

[bgarrett]

the main floor of the building would be used strictly for the business, but the lower half

It looks like the lower part of the building is the main floor???

 

[thomascreation]

If I was a single man I wouldn't even think twice about living in the space. with kids....

It looks like the lower part of the building is the main floor???

The lot slopes from the front to the rear. So the windows you see on the street side of the building are what I consider the first floor. The lower level has a drive in door on the back and used to have windows that were blocked up. I guess you could consider the lower level a walk out basement. I attached a picture of another angle.

 

[thomascreation]

Nice! I was just in Peoria last Saturday.

Where do you live? What brought you to Peoria?

 

[RibsBrisket4me]

Sweeeet! And yes, I'd love to make a combo shop, living space and call it home. What an amazing price you got it for!
Congrats!

 

[ZRX61]

That part of the building was built in the late 1800's. The furniture store that used to own it covered it up so they could put a sign on it. From the inside it has blocked up windows. I'm temped to take it off, but I don't want to open a box of worms.

I wouldn't hesitate to pull it off, what are your plans for the top floor?

 

[MattRich]

Twelve thousand five hundred dollars????? Did I read that right? In South East England I paid £8000 (about the same with exchange rates) for a single car lock up garage with no power! Im moving to Peoria
Thats going to be an amazing build, good luck with it

 

[xtremek]

I can't believe no one has done this yet. I'm the first ? Ok then, YOU ****!!!! I think I'm with ZRX61. Next summer I'd yank that facade off. I'm subscribing to this.

 

[thomascreation]

Twelve thousand five hundred dollars????? Did I read that right? I

Yup! you did. Like I said before I got a good deal. The average cost in this area is $10sqft for a hollow building of this size. I got this place for $1 sqft. But, it needed a roof section replaced right off the bat and I have other less pressing improvements to make over the next few years which will add up. Next summer I need to coat the flat roof, replace some windows ect. Since we're not wasting money on rent we plan to spend that amount on improvements each year.

I wouldn't hesitate to pull it off, what are your plans for the top floor?

The 2nd floor (small tall section in the pictures) is currently empty. I'll snap a photo next time I'm there in the daylight. It has lights but I'm only flipping on breakers as I go through each circuit and make sure I don't have a fire hazard. I'm lucky tho that someone rewired the building in conduit and copper wire. But.. you never know what fool jacked around with it. Until we need that space I'm going to leave it be.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Where do you live? What brought you to Peoria?

Sent you a pm.

 

[Wanna Ride]

I wouldn't hesitate to pull it off, what are your plans for the top floor?

This time of year... might not be a good idea. Weather could turn to **** any day, and stay like that, well into April. Heavy winds, lots of snow and below zero temps would make that a bad idea.

 

[Strouty]

Awesome place, glad you are not in Maine, I have a business named The Salvage Garage. I hope to someday do something similar to what you are doing. I want to repurpose old items and sell them as new and useful creations.

I wish I could find anything for that price, around here that would be much more expensive.

 

[BFBOB]

Very interesting - incredible deal or incredible money pit! I remember your first post about this place. What changed? Did the city faders loosen up their zoning/building code stance?
I've got to admit the exterior looks a heap sight better with a fresh coat of paint. And the interior -- well of course it's absolutely perfect!

 

[thomascreation]

It got a clean bill of health after the church repainted. The city was happy with the repairs they made and moved on. Its about image around here. The're trying to clean up the downtown area. They have some major money going into the "warehouse district" with new roadways, sidewalks, lighting, condo loft projects.... This building is about 1/2 mile south of that actual district. I talked with a guy who owns a building a few blocks north of me. He's fixing up a early 1800's building. The city is forcing him to do a few minor repairs to the front of the building but the rear has actual bricks falling out.... they want the front fixed first.... I know they're going to come around again at some point for the sidewalks and parking lot. I'm budgeting for that.

 

[thomascreation]

I want to repurpose old items and sell them as new and useful creations.

Do it! We hounded the city and after 9 months we were granted a salvage contract for the 50+ homes a year they tear down. We go in and save the architectural parts. Windows, doors, sinks, tubs ect. Previously all of these items were literally going into the dump. I can't stand waste.

 

[thomascreation]

Haven't had much change in the last few days. I have the electrician coming in a few days to start on the sub panel. Got a little more done on my barn wall. I stopped at the local habitat for humanity store and found two under mount drawers and some organizers, $30 for everything. I ordered a 6kw electric heater and it came in yesterday, should have heat this weekend if all goes well (fingers crossed).

 

[Strouty]

Those are great cabinets and you got a good deal. Having heat is always a good thing, we are still getting into the 40s here during the day.

 

[thomascreation]

Barn wall is done! sliding door and all.

 

[pmalavolti]

I'm in tremont. i wish i would have known about that. awesome find. i would love to swing by and check it out.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Keep us posted with the updates ! Don't forget to announce the Grand Opening !

 

[thomascreation]

I'm in tremont. i wish i would have known about that. awesome find. i would love to swing by and check it out.

Anytime!

 

[nsula_country]

12500 sq/ft! For $1 sq/ft? Inconceivable!

Subscribed

CT

 

[savethatclassic]

12.5k?!? in so cal you can maybe a 10x10 shed haha, nice spot!

 

[onemanarmy]

Do it! We hounded the city and after 9 months we were granted a salvage contract for the 50+ homes a year they tear down. We go in and save the architectural parts. Windows, doors, sinks, tubs ect. Previously all of these items were literally going into the dump. I can't stand waste.

The city tears down that many houses a year? Every year?

How was no one already taking the valuable stuff out before demolition?

How did you have the connections/know who to contact for that kind of operation?

Were you already in the salvage biz before contracting with the city?

and yes, what a great shop. Much traffic by there?

 

[Wanna Ride]

The city tears down that many houses a year? Every year?

How was no one already taking the valuable stuff out before demolition?

How did you have the connections/know who to contact for that kind of operation?

Were you already in the salvage biz before contracting with the city?

and yes, what a great shop. Much traffic by there?

There's a lot of old run down houses in the midwest. Unfortunately, way too many of them went neglected, and a lot of them are beyond repair. Or they'd just cost too much to bring back to standards, for the neighborhoods they're in.

 

[thomascreation]

The city tears down that many houses a year? Every year?

How was no one already taking the valuable stuff out before demolition?

How did you have the connections/know who to contact for that kind of operation?

Were you already in the salvage biz before contracting with the city?

and yes, what a great shop. Much traffic by there?

Peoria is an older city, in fact its older than Chicago. So, yes that also means we have a lot of low income homes which equates to run down properties. The landlords are ultimately responsible for things getting as bad as they are. I do have some clout with the city, I volunteer as a neighborhood organizer of sorts. I simply brought up the conversation with a council member I know and got the ball rolling. Others have tried in the past but I was the only one who actually put a plan together. I will say this, now that I'm doing it I have copy cats following suit (competition). Before starting the company I had zero knowledge, but I saw it on tv once so....... I thought "hey, I can do that!" We get decent traffic by that road, I think its around 8k cars a day. Last year they razed about 50, next year it will be more. The town is about 125k in population if I recall.