Day dreaming

[bigbore1934]

day dreaming

 

[kasander]

Wow, that would be a cool project!

 

[BuffettFan]

I can't offer any help, but this is a very cool idea.
The building is reminiscent of an old service station in a nearby town that still offers full service and some service work.

View media item 80261
I'll be watching for updates.
Good Luck!

 

[matt_i]

My thought is that you are going to need heavy duty footings especially on the column and on the front facade, very large amount of weight of stacked bricks are going to be there. Critical to also get below the frostline wherever you may be.

I would think if the town is small enough you'd get a lot more leniency in investing in its tax base.

 

[77Birdman]

I think I would approach the Lions and tell them of your plan. (sounds like you may have already). Then check with the local authorities on what restrictions they have. I would even go as far talking to an architect for an idea on cost. If everything falls into line then pull the plug, buy the building and have fun. Looks like a cool project and a great idea.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If you can get the zoning changed (likely easy, bribe the right people), and get a variance for the setbacks (Not quite as easy, but having the photos will help a lot)... then it's a matter of building it.

Since it would be re-creating a historical building, getting the local historical society on your side would help. Also, since it was a Chevy dealer, maybe if you reached out to GM... you never know.

Won't be easy... and it will have to be built to current structural engineering and local building code requirements... but yes, you CAN do this, and it would be cooler than arctic snowballs in January.

 

[apollo11]

I sure wish I had more money than brains

 

[JamesW84]

It would be very cool. BUT:

1) What does/would a current/future spouse think about living in it? My girlfriend likely wouldn't like it.

2) Selling it would be very difficult. To get a loan these days, they have to find 2 or 3 comparable sales within a short distance (5-10 miles or so) within the past 6mo-1year. Without that, most lenders can't/won't lend. I had this issue buying my earth-berm house a couple years ago. I was told by several lenders that they couldn't loan because they couldn't find comps. There is an earth berm across the street, but it hadn't sold recently. I ended up calling a real estate agent who was able to help me with some comps, but I doubt there would be very many similar houses in the nation/world, which adds cool factor, but isn't practical. YOU may not need a loan, but the next buyer probably will. Remember, you may not be around to sell it - your family may inherit it at any time. You never know what will happen. It would **** if your family inherited a $300k property that they didn't need/want to live in and couldn't sell it.

Your town is probably better off with a business going in there. They will create more tax revenue. You could get some land and build a replica albeit smaller version of the previous dealership. You could do it pole-barn style if you wish and just use veneer brick, etc to keep the costs down without having all the concrete, etc

I'd probably build a house separate from the shop unless you have a partner who you plan to keep and they love the idea of living in what looks like a shop/dealership on the outside. If you really have 300k, you could build one hell of a nice shop and a nice house to boot (depending on location - which you need to add to your profile).

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

What a cool concept. Brick is heavy so a full foundation will be needed but with careful planning that building would be possible. Codes do not always make intelligent reading so be certain a s in writing from AHJ that you will be able to use it as a residence. Fire walls, vapor curbs, fire rated doors, fire stop partitions in attic, lots of details. Hope you can make your dream come true.

 

[Paycheck]

Cool!
Could it registered as a historic building?

 

[Stuart in MN]

I like your idea very much, and hope you can make it work and get the building (re)built. Check with the local historical society to see if they have any photos or other information that may help document the original structure. Also, reach out to the community - like, put an ad in the local newspaper - to see if anyone local has pictures or other info from family members who used to work there.

 

[IMXCITD]

very cool idea!

 

[LXCam]

Good luck bud. I like the concept and I hope you're able to get some leniency with the local building department.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Not sure you understand, body shop as in ,that is what it used to be.NOT SHOWN IN THE PHOTOS.
Mixed use,not if I buy it.My home.
ada bath rooms,already has 2 and a full pro kitchen.
fire suppression,has that too.(not in the proposed building)
required parking ,already has a large parking lot.(paved)and street parking on one of the streets.This will not be a public place!

I think you may be thinking too literally. Thin faux brick can give the feel. The street view doesn't need to be an actual building footprint. It could be a walled courtyard or yard art. The big thing about the right feel is large or multiple period photographs or framed blueprints. Recreating original signage, dealership paraphernalia , or interior period car ( or partial car) can make it feel like the dealership lives again.

Personally, I think it was an ugly building then and now. But, my biggest teenage desire was some version of Dan Tanna's Vegas garage living room, Bond's car phone, and the Batcave complete with flaming jet car. Not much difference.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... I think the original building was pretty neat, and it was fairly typical of small town dealership buildings. There are some similar examples here on the board (HD FLX's restored Sinclair station is the most recent one https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337182) and I've seen some videos on Youtube of old dealerships converted into housing.

 

[James-W]

I think it is an interesting idea, but I don't think it is something that can be done unless you have an unlimited budget.

First off, you will need to get approval from the town to do this, then you will need to purchase the property and it may not be cheap. Then you will need to get all the permits, which means everything will need to be done up to the current codes, for construction, electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling, insulation, etc. Since it was a garage, and a dealership, there may well be contaminants in the soil that will need to be removed and the whole area cleaned up. If there are contaminants in the soil to be cleaned up, just that issue alone could cost a small fortune. Not trying to be pessimistic, but this project could easily run over a million dollars before it is done. To make matters worse, you would never be able to sell it for anywhere near what it would cost to build it.

Another thing to consider, the codes today may call for much larger "setbacks" than what was called for back in those days. If you have to move everything back several feet from the property lines you will have a much smaller area to build in.

It is an interesting idea, the logistics of it may prove to be extremely costly and squash the idea, but in any case I wish you all the best in whatever you decide to do.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Not a bad idea, just relocate and clean slate it!

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950s-living-garage.474318/

I remember the idea pops up every ten years or so like a movie remake pawned off as a new idea. Some of the garages on GJ look like my livingroom. They just have bigger doors and nicer furniture.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd say day dreaming for sure. It would be cool to see it all done as an old school bldg. However realistically, I'd rather put up a place outside of town with living quarters in one end.

Honestly, I think you day dream is a money pit. Best of luck to you in your endeavour.

 

[Chaz]

Everyone said I was nuts to re-create and live in a barn... **** them! I'm lovin it!

 

[Lelandwelds]

Thanks guy!
First off,we don't really have many codes here for residential building.They are VERY lenient!The local HS *****,I have a larger collection of local history than they do!
The city is blowing away so a business moving in is less than likely as a lot of old business' in town ,and a church have been re-purposed as houses. SOOOOOOO land value and home value is low,I can buy a city lot for $5,000 so resale would be hard,but it could be left to the HS.(they need all the help/donations they can get)
Can it be registered historic,NO.Just a nut job with an obsession!
Relocate?Nope.I have a couple of other properties,but would feel it pointless for this building to be on another property.
My wife/girlfriend.........don't give a ****..................
contamination,yes I know for a fact it is,but no one else does!There is a new law that protects non-original owners,kind of a grandfathered-in law.
Ugly?No to me!!!!

And my father is close friends with the son of the og owner.My father and I have the largest collection of items from the dealer including most of the og signage ,some cool light fixtures,and tons of smalls.I do own the old 1966 Chevy service truck and 3 other vehicles that were sold there!

You are most of the way there with the fun part of the research and tchotchkes. You just need the wallet busting and sanity crushing part.

 

[NUTTSGT]

"I'd rather put up a place outside of town with living quarters in one end."


It would be in town,but the same living deal..........I have a 77 acre farm wouldn't live there.......

If you go through with this project, make sure you start a build thread in the Gallery Section and take a metric **** ton of pictures posting up here to document it. Not only does it entertain your fellow members but it'll also keep you motivated and kick up ideas as you go to solve problems as you progress.

Also might want to update your profile with a general location. It'll help get proper answers when you ask questions in the future.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

Out of boredom I watched one of those real estate shows and this couple was looking at buying a two bedroom condo for almost half a mill then paying hundreds a month more for parking and over five hundred a month for HOA. This was near DC, NOT exactly a vacation destination. So spending your money on your dream is what it's all about. The rest of the world can go scratch as long as you made it happen. Enjoy it while you are here and it won't matter once we are gone. Keep us posted with progress.