Condo with a shop?

[andyvh1959]

Even though I am finishing my new 24x28 shop garage (two car attached garage on the house), I know eventually we'll relocate to a smaller house, less property to maintain. While I like a yard, I'm no gardener, no flowerbeds, mowing is ok but not a "hobby".

The idea of a condo is not all negative, especially the lack of yard and driveway maintenance since up here in Green Bay snow is another maintenance issue. Anyone moved into a condo with a large enough shop or a stand alone shop in addition to the condo garage? I'd consider a condo if a decent shop is possible.

 

[zkdiesel]

Rent a commercial building and have your condo

 

[kbs2244]

look for a condo with a detached garage to avoid the noise issue

 

[Chapter21]

I'm quite certain you will not find that, people live in condos because they have no idea what a shop is or how to use a hammer, and they get really pissy when you make working noises.

 

[Showkey]

There’s probably a niche market for shop.........almost all your likely get a adequate two stall garage. With that might condo rules about working on cars ?
The other issue condo are about down sizing.......so cost/sqft is thing.

My sister has a stand alone condo in Milwaukee with their own basement........they are free to have a wood shop with a Two car small garage.

Some of the condo communities especially in FLorida have community hobby shops.

 

[andyvh1959]

I live about 60 miles north of Elkhart Lake, little town near Road America. There is a whole development of car lover condos going up. These are the type with oversize two-car garages with the intent for active working shops. Really cool place, but pricey. The attached news report was in 2016, and since then the number of condos has at least doubled. Up here just north of Green Bay is another development started by the former CEO/founder of PDQ Car Wash.

https://www.sheboyganpress.com/stor...dos-allow-car-buffs-live-their-toys/81809088/

https://woodfieldmotorcondos.com/

Maybe I'll get lucky and find a condo near a small industrial/commercial building. Buy the condo, and the small commercial building to do what I want. Before my brother and I had met our gals (I'm married, he's engaged) I told him we should go together and buy an old 2-story commercial building, something with the potential for a huge ground level access for a shop/garage. Then we'd each develop the upstairs, each into our homes. Use the rooftop as a party/garden/deck with big screen TVs, bar, etc. There are a few towns between Green Bay and Appleton with the old downtown buildings that are quite often vacant and cheap to buy. But restaurants and bars are close by. Would have been fun.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Down here, they are called a “barndominium “ if you’re not in town, or in a small town with pretty lax building guidelines. We did this at the family farm back in 97. A 40x60 building, and we finished out 20x40 of it into a studio type apartment. The shop remains as 40x40. It’s been great

I did look into buying a commercial building and living in it, but the city I live in would not give a zoning variance (this was several years ago, and I wasn’t looking in other towns at the time)



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Jazz1]

My mother had one 20 years ago. Main level was garage and laundry, upper 2 levels accommodations. Garage was 24x16.

 

[Chapter21]

Seems like you would be more likely to find this in the opposite configuration, a shop with a condo. In a lot of places a commercial building is almost always allowed at least one occupant for living, as security/caretaker.

And yeah, you can have more fun in a commercial shop. 3 phase power is just the beginning!

 

[Wanna Ride]

Seems like you would be more likely to find this in the opposite configuration, a shop with a condo. In a lot of places a commercial building is almost always allowed at least one occupant for living, as security/caretaker.

And yeah, you can have more fun in a commercial shop. 3 phase power is just the beginning!

Agreed. Someone above mentioned something about condo neighbors not being the “shop” type. One of many reasons why I’m not a condo person. Although most all other reasons are similarly rooted. And there’s absolutely zero chances of me ever being interested in the idea of ever using a community shop space. Nope. I can barely tolerate the wife parking in the shop in the winter months, and I kinda, sorta like her.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I live about 60 miles north of Elkhart Lake, little town near Road America. There is a whole development of car lover condos going up.

Most if not all car condos are not zoned to be used as permanent residences, so you still need a separate place to live.

 

[glend123]

How about a Townhouse with an attached 2 car garage? The association does all the outside maint. but there's probably an HOA with a lot of rules, same with a condo.

 

[CraigStu]

I just can't get w/ the condo thing at all. Someone else telling me what I can do? It's like a super HOA and one can say they 'own' the condo but that is really a play on words to me. My brother's inlaws owned a condo in Fl and he got to see a lot of **** in their last 5 yrs or so before they passed on. Older 3 story building w/ deck type construction one one side so they all had decks. You know what it costs to demolish all those decks and rebuild them? No choice, they had to pay. I don't remember the #s but it was horrendous. I hate yard work too so I would much rather build a new house configured how ever I want that has a tiny yard. A self propelled electric mower is pretty easy to use and I like river stone vs grass too.

 

[justanengineer]

We had a track condo at M1 for a few years and it was great but pricy fun. We were allowed any use except residential, a few had offices but most were just a combination of toy maintenance/storage and lounge area. The (significantly more expensive) track condos in my hometown operate the same way, they’re hobby hangouts not homes. It’s the same as most of the privately owned hangars you see at small airports - nobody lives there and nobody wants you to live there bc of the added insurance/liability cost necessary and to prevent the stupidity and drama that happens at many folks’ homes overflowing into others pricy hobbies.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[yeldogt]

I just can't get w/ the condo thing at all. Someone else telling me what I can do? It's like a super HOA and one can say they 'own' the condo but that is really a play on words to me. My brother's inlaws owned a condo in Fl and he got to see a lot of **** in their last 5 yrs or so before they passed on. Older 3 story building w/ deck type construction one one side so they all had decks. You know what it costs to demolish all those decks and rebuild them? No choice, they had to pay. I don't remember the #s but it was horrendous. I hate yard work too so I would much rather build a new house configured how ever I want that has a tiny yard. A self propelled electric mower is pretty easy to use and I like river stone vs grass too.

There are many different types of condos .... but -- it's all about sharing costs and maintaining control. I own a co-op in NYC -- even more control.

Condos make sense for vacation homes. Everything outside is taken care of -- you just show up. You can have single family condos as well ... quite common around golf communities.

 

[yeldogt]

We had a track condo at M1 for a few years and it was great but pricy fun. We were allowed any use except residential, a few had offices but most were just a combination of toy maintenance/storage and lounge area. The (significantly more expensive) track condos in my hometown operate the same way, they’re hobby hangouts not homes. It’s the same as most of the privately owned hangars you see at small airports - nobody lives there and nobody wants you to live there bc of the added insurance/liability cost necessary and to prevent the stupidity and drama that happens at many folks’ homes overflowing into others pricy hobbies.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The underlying property type is irrelevant. There are endless types of commercial condo properties. They key is always residence and school .... really it's about taxes tied to the schools.

 

[nadogail]

Best wishes for success during your search.

I once heard, maybe 1987, of a three stall garage with doors on both ends of the three stalls that led into the yard behind the building. The apartment was above the garages; the property was said to be in San Diego so snow was not a consideration.

 

[dcg9381]

Anyone moved into a condo with a large enough shop or a stand alone shop in addition to the condo garage? I'd consider a condo if a decent shop is possible.

Around here,condo with a shop is an odd deal.
Might look into building a bardominium... But they are not allowed everywhere.

 

[JSGAuto]

Move to NJ

https://njmp.com/exotic-car-garages/

 

[Forgottonia]

I used to live in Alexandria, VA. I recall seeing several guys on S. Union Street (near the Potomac) in Old Town Alexandria who had little workshops in their townhouse garages. Here's the street view (but with garage doors closed): link You'd see these guys in their workshops on the weekend working on a project or drinking beers and watching a game.

 

[tdkkart]

Most if not all car condos are not zoned to be used as permanent residences, so you still need a separate place to live.

I'm guessing in ******** Wisconsin the answer to that statement would be, "What's a zone??"

 

[Rst277]

This is pretty common in Europe where space is at a premium. Live in an apartment or condo or small house and rent or buy a commercial place to use as a workshop. Share the commercial place with some like minded individuals - lots of options.

 

[Throughfaith323]

If it’s not too late, add a studio above your garage and live there while you rent the house out. If your town ordinances allow for it.

 

[engineer2]

I've been looking for a condo or townhouse with a large garage for years. Searches on real estate sites return "no results found". I'm sure a few exist, but I'm told they get snapped up within hours of being listed. In AZ there are a few "RV garage" homes that look interesting. The earlier post about the NJ development would be good except there are 2 states I won't retire to. IL and NJ.

 

[Barnabas]

I bought a warehouse zoned heavy industrial.

At home, wife parks her car in the garage, I park outside.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'm guessing in ******** Wisconsin the answer to that statement would be, "What's a zone??"

The original poster is in Green Bay, which isn't exactly a '********'. They already have a car condo there: https://woodfieldmotorcondos.com

 

[andyvh1959]

Yeah, Green Bay is far from ******** anything. LOTS of million dollar homes all around Green Bay. I am continually surprised by the number of people who obviously make a LOT more money than I could ever hope to make. I just want a comfortable retirement, kind of like my life style now without having to work for it, heh, heh.

Those Woodfield Motor Condos are really nice, and expensive. I'm sure my wife would go for it though.

My brother has had rental duplexes for many years, so he is used to the ideas of rental properties. At one time I said he and I should go together and buy/build a L shaped duplex, huge garage/game room/party room in the corner of the L. So his address would be on the street 90 degrees to my address, so we'd each have different street addresses. I'd "rent" from him, he'd "rent" from me. So any rental property needs could be a cost of the rental property, like snow removal, lawn tractor for property care, etc.

He and I could share property maintenance chores, we both work alike and well together. We'd share the huge central garage, both have motorcycles, he has a Mini-Cooper track car. But then we both got hitched, so that duplex idea faded away.

 

[driftpin]

Aero Club Wellington FL sounds like what you want. https://www.nvrealtygroup.com/fl/wellington/aero-club.php

Bring your checkbook.

 

[Showkey]

A condo witha shop is one thing.........as shop condo is another.

A shop condo means you still need a place to live.........which means you your goal for less complication is more comple.

One solution is buy a property home and shop with no lawn............then buy a fun device to plow snow. Thats my current situation. I do have a lot of leaves to deal with in the fall.

I have witness friends and relatives move to the rentals (or owned) condo/apartment too early in retirement .......... losing the shop, hobbies and even simple gardening projects turned out to be a BIG mistake. 20-30 retirement in rental is a very long time.

If the goal is to get away from the wife 100 feet often works as well as 100 miles. The shop 1-5 miles away seems like it would be ok..... Reality is driving to the shop is not convenient to say the least.

The shop condos ( airport hangers etc) usually have rules about sleeping/cooking there. Yes, they may not be unforced but they don’t want live ins.

 

[andyvh1959]

In Wausau there must still be cool commercial buildings that could be converted to a shop/home in an active bar/restaurant downtown environment. I've been to the Grand Theater in Wausau many times and the downtown area is pretty cool. A old converted building downtown, no lawn to care for, keep up the building maintenance so it looks good, maybe a party deck on the roof. Garage/shop area on the first floor, home above. Would be really good if the garage entrance was on the street level accessed from an alley.

I'd be ok with a condo and a separate shop, if the shop was across the lot or street. But to have a shop some driving distance away is a no go, just too much hassle.

 

[Showkey]

Those old building are not coming up for sale..........or.............they are so run down they need to come down.
Great Lake cheese and Wausau Chemical moved to the industrial park. The land is already spoken for even though some could be a super fund site.
Most of the industry building along the river are gone now...........condo or apartments in their place, but no shops.
The river district developer has gone broke at least twice since I have been here.
Popular around here but not cheap is buy a 40 outside town build a “Pole building” shop, lodge and hunting land etc all in one.

The a new Brewery in Mosinee “ downtown” at the 153 stop light. It was a run down empty building for years....serious decay. The owners stuck over $1m in renovations


I have three acres, no lawn, completely wooded, home, garage, separate shop and wood shop in basement. Rent a 20x50-12 storage for toys, RV and stuff. Not as convenient as on property storage but way way less cost. $1100/year vs $50k building plus taxes. Those guys with 40’s and buildings are in for $150k to $300k depending on location, size, power, heat etc.

I did look at farm, where I would use the buildings, rent the home.............wife killed that idea.......no landlord for us, she said buy the farm, just don’t rent it out.

 

[Sumboodie]

I'm quite certain you will not find that, people live in condos because they have no idea what a shop is or how to use a hammer, and they get really pissy when you make working noises.

One neighbor whined to me once thinking I'd say "oh I'm sorry".

Told him to get the **** off my yard and move if he didn't like it.

He's not bothered me in 3 years. Even waves once in a while.