Garage Condos, What are your thoughts/experiences?

[Skellyii]

Newly retired and getting back into my car hobby.

I'm currently building out the oversized three-car garage in the house we just bought (check my sig line), but my original intention was for more space, i.e buy a house with extra garage space, preferably 4+, or buy a house with a big lot and build my own shop.

The housing market the last few years around here has been brutal, and anything with a 4 car or more, and/or with enough land to build on usually disappeared on the first couple of days it went up for sale, or in some cases never made it off the Pre-MLS list. I actually got out bid on a house that needed work, but had a three-car and the land to build a big workshop..it went $90K over list in three days!!

Anyway, I just found about the Garage condo thing a few months ago from a GJ member, @sh944 (AFTER I bought a house of course), and I was very intrigued. Most around here are either sold out, or are lacking in the community aspect. I did weekend drivebys on the ones that had available space, and with the exception of @sh944 's that's 30 minutes away from my current house (only 15 from my last house dammitt!!) they were deserted...on a beautiful weekend!!

Anyway, because I needed space right away, I leased a 15 x 40 garage condo for the time being that's about three minutes from my house. That was all they had at the time, but I'm on the list to be notified if a bigger space come up for lease or sale. The downside is that I seem to be the only car guy out there, most of the others are just using it for warehouse space, or running their business.

Some of the Storage facilities around here have indoor car storage, but you can't work on it in there, and it has to be registered and running...say what??

Over the next few months, trying to decide if:
I'll stay at this place that's close by, hoping for a better space in the future.
Grab a space at the condo with the big community, as they're adding additional buildings.
Keep trying to find some land and build my own shop.
Just do my project work in my home garage, and use my current leased space for storage, and maybe longer term projects.

My questions for you guys are:
How important has the community aspect of the Garage Condo concept been to you?
How far away from your residence is your condo? Has the distance been an issue?
Any other random thoughts or tradeoffs?

Thanks!

 

[sh944]

I think I am pretty well documented here, but the community aspect of it makes it a lot more enjoyable, in my opinion. The various types of projects being built and folks just dropping in to chat, occasionally lending a tool or hand wrenching, etc is really an added benefit, at least at our complex.

 

[cvairwerks]

A similar situation comes up in the homebuilt and antique aircraft world. Keep the project at a hangar on the airport, or bring it home. There are arguments for and against both. The best one for having the project at home, is that it takes zero time to commute to where you are working on it and that allows both longer working times and the ability to go do something on the project at a moment's notice. Being at the airport, and depending on the people out there, you may be the one guy out there for any length of time. On some, though, you may be overrun with visitors and not have a chance to really get anything done without closing the hangar doors and playing like no one's there.

I'm on the side of having the work area at home, when I can access it at any time of the day or night, as I work overnights and keep that schedule on my days off. That means that I'm often out in the garage working on my projects from about midnight to well after sunrise on those days. I walk out the door and I'm there. I've got all the comforts of home at hand, and I don't have to cross half the airport to get to running water and a restroom. My garage is heated and cooled, while the hangar isn't. For me, it translates into more accomplished with less wasted time.

 

[Skellyii]

I think I am pretty well documented here, but the community aspect of it makes it a lot more enjoyable, in my opinion. The various types of projects being built and folks just dropping in to chat, occasionally lending a tool or hand wrenching, etc is really an added benefit, at least at our complex.

Yeah, I'm going to come out there some day to look around.

I have found out that I'm not the only car guy in my leased space, there's 2 more. However...they're not the wrenching type.

One guy has two separate spaces, where he has *6* 4 post rotary lifts, all populated with various VERY high end MB products. He also has a few misc euro cars. He said that he likes to drive something different every day.

The other one has a couple of Bendpacks, a couple of Porsches (Newer 9 series), a collectors quality 240Z, an old MB sedan in museum condition and a few other things.

Never met him, but one of his employees comes by and details and maintains the cars for him.

 

[Skellyii]

A similar situation comes up in the homebuilt and antique aircraft world. Keep the project at a hangar on the airport, or bring it home. There are arguments for and against both. The best one for having the project at home, is that it takes zero time to commute to where you are working on it and that allows both longer working times and the ability to go do something on the project at a moment's notice. Being at the airport, and depending on the people out there, you may be the one guy out there for any length of time. On some, though, you may be overrun with visitors and not have a chance to really get anything done without closing the hangar doors and playing like no one's there.

I'm on the side of having the work area at home, when I can access it at any time of the day or night, as I work overnights and keep that schedule on my days off. That means that I'm often out in the garage working on my projects from about midnight to well after sunrise on those days. I walk out the door and I'm there. I've got all the comforts of home at hand, and I don't have to cross half the airport to get to running water and a restroom. My garage is heated and cooled, while the hangar isn't. For me, it translates into more accomplished with less wasted time.

I'm leaning towards keeping my primary workspace at home for all the same reasons that you mentioned, especially the heating and cooling part. I'm getting ready to buy a mini-split for my home garage, and unless I buy a garage condo with an outside wall, I won't be able to do that.

I am still considering having a garage condo for storage space, and maybe some light wrenching during good weather.

 

[u2slow]

Check your bylaws and zoning very carefully. Also try to get a feel for what the AHJ enforces and ignores.

Very agressive opposition/requirements here to building detached dwelling space. While at the same time, people carve out basement suites and similar rentals in their older homes, silently, without any hassle.

Edit: I'm glad I built my shop in the back yard, with its own road access, without an apartment space.

 

[Skellyii]

Check your bylaws and zoning very carefully. Also try to get a feel for what the AHJ enforces and ignores.

Very agressive opposition/requirements here to building detached dwelling space. While at the same time, people carve out basement suites and similar rentals in their older homes, silently, without any hassle.

Edit: I'm glad I built my shop in the back yard, with its own road access, without an apartment space.

In the suburb where I live, the setback and coverage requirements make it difficult, but not impossible to build a sizable shop. While my HOA bans garden sheds, The rules on home expansion are wide open, and my lot is just short of .5 acre, so I have enough space to build a 3-4 car garage, as long as it's attached to the house.

A close by suburb is pretty lax on what they allow, so I was thinking about buying a lot there and building my workspace. However, I'm starting to rethink that, and the home addition add-on shop thing, due to my age, and the convenience of just going the garage condo route and letting somebody else maintain the building and lot for me.

 

[dcg9381]

My questions for you guys are:
How important has the community aspect of the Garage Condo concept been to you?
How far away from your residence is your condo? Has the distance been an issue?
Any other random thoughts or tradeoffs?

So I think "garage condos" would be massively popular here, subject to the insane construction and land costs in general. One trouble is that often restrictions require a minimum sqft of livable area that tends to proportion things towards "house".

Our "garage condo" community is at the local airport. And there has been a substantial movement towards "barndominimum" - which means different things to different people, but means steel framed building to me with a large "shop" space. Again, zoning can get in the way unless you're creative. I would say that 50% of the hanger owners aren't active pilots. Some aren't pilots at all.. With more than just a few being used for automotive/hobby use. I keep an "interest" in a building out there (very low cost) and have held onto some land in the area with the intention of building on it some day.

I like the "community" aspect of the airport and people that are involved with it, but like any other community there are always the petty disputes about property lines, what should be "allowed" out there (think "drones" that can carry a human)... You know, normal people stuff.
It's pretty normal for people to want space for car collections, boat storage, RVs, special projects we've even had low end movie production done out there... So it's been pretty easy to defer costs of that space.

 

[Kpaige]

Around here there are some but more popular closer to the cities. In my area they build shouses. Shop with a house built in instead of a house with a shop.

 

[u2slow]

In the suburb where I live, the setback and coverage requirements make it difficult, but not impossible to build a sizable shop. While my HOA bans garden sheds, The rules on home expansion are wide open, and my lot is just short of .5 acre, so I have enough space to build a 3-4 car garage, as long as it's attached to the house.

HOA too... ouch.

I could have got more garage also, if attached, but wasn't viable for existing house and lot (just under .5 acre too).

A possible deterrant for shop w/condo is resale - it may preclude a future buyer from building a proper standalone home.

Watch for loopholes. While I was especially restricted on height and enclosed square footage, I was able to have a larger and taller shop building overall by keeping 60% of it open, like a carport. (Imagine a 3 bay building with only the center bay enclosed.)

 

[csp]

One thing to watch with garage condo developments is the property taxes. In Colorado these are zoned as commercial space and the property taxes are unbelievably high.

 

[walta]

Before you get too excited you may want to read this sad story.

As I recall someone decided the no welding rule did not apply to them.

Fire Ravages Warehouse Complex Packed With Cars

It reportedly was started by people working on a vehicle.

www.motorious.com

Walta

 

[Skellyii]

Before you get too excited you may want to read this sad story.

As I recall someone decided the no welding rule did not apply to them.

Fire Ravages Warehouse Complex Packed With Cars

It reportedly was started by people working on a vehicle.

www.motorious.com

Walta

The normal perils of shared spaces, i.e. condos, townhouses, apartments, etc. Here locally, we just had a building at one of those chain attic-type storage facilities go up in flames a week or two ago.

That's what insurance is for.

 

[ned911]

So I think "garage condos" would be massively popular here, subject to the insane construction and land costs in general. One trouble is that often restrictions require a minimum sqft of livable area that tends to proportion things towards "house".

Our "garage condo" community is at the local airport. And there has been a substantial movement towards "barndominimum" - which means different things to different people, but means steel framed building to me with a large "shop" space. Again, zoning can get in the way unless you're creative. I would say that 50% of the hanger owners aren't active pilots. Some aren't pilots at all.. With more than just a few being used for automotive/hobby use. I keep an "interest" in a building out there (very low cost) and have held onto some land in the area with the intention of building on it some day.

I like the "community" aspect of the airport and people that are involved with it, but like any other community there are always the petty disputes about property lines, what should be "allowed" out there (think "drones" that can carry a human)... You know, normal people stuff.
It's pretty normal for people to want space for car collections, boat storage, RVs, special projects we've even had low end movie production done out there... So it's been pretty easy to defer costs of that space.

There is a Garages of Texas (garage condo) site across 620 from Lakeway. GoT has a number of sites across the state. They are also building garage condos at COTA but I don't even want to know the price for those lol.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Garages of Texas was affordable five years ago, now a unit can run 250k that might fit four cars at best with a mezzanine. They advertise resale units in the 450k range. Great idea for rich folks. They have open houses at these communities, and they are outrageous.

 

[sh944]

I bought into my original unit for under $40k back in 2013. I have a total actual cash investment in my total space (expanding it and building a mezzanine, plus finishes and upgrades) of less than $130k for a 30'x 34' space, but I did a *lot* of the work myself. I could easily sell it for double that amount with a phone call to the real estate agent that represents the facility, as he has told me there is a list of folks waiting to buy. I wouldn't have to list it, Bill has said mine would be sold within fifteen minutes of me calling him, and it would be sold for cash.

Yeah, its for folks with some money but its a pretty liquid asset at this point.

We have 15 buildings at this point, and the complex was established in 2013. We have yet to have a fire or major catastrophe on site. We have had a couple people do stupid things that impacted their own units but so far its been limited to that. I am not worried about my unit going up in flames because of my neighbors.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'd think most new garage condo units have fire sprinklers, I know the https://automotorplex.com/ here in the Minneapolis area does.

 

[walta]

The normal perils of shared spaces, i.e. condos, townhouses, apartments, etc. Here locally, we just had a building at one of those chain attic-type storage facilities go up in flames a week or two ago.

That's what insurance is for.

Yes, insurance can give you some amount of money for your lost car but it can’t replace something you have invested countless of hours in and likely more money than anyone would want to admit.

 

[Skellyii]

Yes, insurance can give you some amount of money for your lost car but it can’t replace something you have invested countless of hours in and likely more money than anyone would want to admit.

Sounds like you're referring to one (or both) of my ex-wives....

 

[sh944]

Wait, I can collect on an insurance policy on my ex-wives?? now you tell me… lol

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Fresco, Texas

Frisco Garage Resale Available!

Specs:
- Floor dimensions: Approximately 30’ wide x 50’ deep
- Mezzanine dimensions: Approximately 30’ wide x 16’ deep
- One insulated exterior garage door (18’ wide x 14’ tall) and one 3’ passage door
- Extra natural light windows on rear wall
- Balcony dimensions: Approximately 25' wide by 10' deep
- Patio dimensions: Approximately 25' wide by 10' deep

PURCHASE PRICE: $700,000.00

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Frisco Garage Resale Available!

Specs:
- Floor dimensions: Approximately 30’ wide x 50’ deep
- Mezzanine dimensions: Approximately 30’ wide x 16’ deep
- One insulated exterior garage door (18’ wide x 14’ tall) and one 3’ passage door
- Extra natural light windows on rear wall
- Balcony dimensions: Approximately 25' wide by 10' deep
- Patio dimensions: Approximately 25' wide by 10' deep

PURCHASE PRICE: $700,000.00

 

[cvairwerks]

You can't touch a starter home in Frisco for under $400k.....

 

[Skellyii]

You might want to think about moving. While things might be "Bigger" in Texas, they're also a whole lot more expensive.

This is a listing an agent sent me for our areas "Exclusive" Luxury AutoPlaza:
Resale Garage in Stone Gate AutoPlaza-PRICE REDUCED!



I also have a garage condo listed for sale in Stone Gate AutoPlaza. The garage is 27’ wide by 53’ deep. It includes heated floors, a garage door opener, walk door, an alarm system, and several windows. This is the end/corner unit on the SE corner of the West building, so it has an exterior balcony that wraps around the garage and that looks both East and South onto the traffic circle. The main garage doors face East into the center of the development and away from the setting sun. Inside, it includes both a 26’ x 13’ upper loft and a very large 26’ x 20’ main loft. The garage also has a built-in bar, tons of electrical upgrades, and a bathroom. The garage includes a full HVAC system, a designer epoxy floor, a large ceiling fan, and a sprinkler system. This garage is move in ready and looks really nice! The list price of this garage is now $370,000. It is available for immediate possession.



I used to have interior pictures, don't know what I did with them. They had originally planned for a test track, but I doubt that will ever happen. When they first started out, you had to go through a "Pre-qualification" process before they would talk to you. Now, just call them and they'll give you a tour. That picture was for a special event, usually it's a ghost town, even on weekends.

 

[Richard D]

PURCHASE PRICE: $700,000.00

Even rich people have too much **** in their garage to do anything.

 

[Byrdnyrd]

Bugeye Sprite!

I’m in!!

 

[cvairwerks]

Bugeye Sprite!

I’m in!!

Need your eyes to be fixed...Triumph TR-3 or TR-3A

 

[Skellyii]

Hmmmn... Just had an interesting conversation with the leasing agent for the garage condo complex where I'm currently leasing my space. Someone connected to the original owner has decide to take over things, and the first item on their agenda is to build another building, but make it more "deluxe". The space in the new building will be marketed at $1.80 per sq/ft vs the current $1.20, so it will definitely be a big leap of faith on their part.

My current space is 600 sq ft, 800 would be my sweet spot. The leasing agent offered me the choice of three 1000 sq ft units at a discount..more space than I want or need, but it's tempting.

 

[Ted_Deits]

I am a long time developer of Garage Condos in California. My first property I built is located in Beaumont California. It was completed in 2010 with 107 garages with a little over 80,000 sq ft of garages. The ownership experience has been great, along with some nice appreciation enjoyed by all. The condo sales prices have just about tripled. Garage sizes range from 400 to about 1300 sq ft.

Another project in Palm Springs was a huge success, with completion in 2021. Those garages were designed with aircraft hanger, bi-fold doors, spanning the entire width of the garage, up to 40' Those garages sold out well before construction was completed, and again, appreciation increased the value by over double. Garage sized ranged from 700 sq ft, to 5400 sq ft.

Currently we are just now completing 158 garages in Coachella Ca. We built this property in three phases. Phase one and two were also all sold out before construction completion. Phase three just received our Occupancy Permits last week, and the new phase three owners are moving in as of this week.

Soon we will be developing in west central Nevada (near Lake Tahoe), and in an outlying area of Sacramento, along Hwy 80.

I have not included links to these properties as I am not sure of the rules of the forums, and I don't want this to appear as spam. You can Google the garage condo locations to easily find them. I am happy to answer any questions regarding the viability of Garage Condominiums. So far, they have enjoyed great acceptance all over the US and Canada.

 

[seanryork]

I am a long time developer of Garage Condos in California. My first property I built is located in Beaumont California. It was completed in 2010 with 107 garages with a little over 80,000 sq ft of garages. The ownership experience has been great, along with some nice appreciation enjoyed by all. The condo sales prices have just about tripled. Garage sizes range from 400 to about 1300 sq ft.

Another project in Palm Springs was a huge success, with completion in 2021. Those garages were designed with aircraft hanger, bi-fold doors, spanning the entire width of the garage, up to 40' Those garages sold out well before construction was completed, and again, appreciation increased the value by over double. Garage sized ranged from 700 sq ft, to 5400 sq ft.

Currently we are just now completing 158 garages in Coachella Ca. We built this property in three phases. Phase one and two were also all sold out before construction completion. Phase three just received our Occupancy Permits last week, and the new phase three owners are moving in as of this week.

Soon we will be developing in west central Nevada (near Lake Tahoe), and in an outlying area of Sacramento, along Hwy 80.

I have not included links to these properties as I am not sure of the rules of the forums, and I don't want this to appear as spam. You can Google the garage condo locations to easily find them. I am happy to answer any questions regarding the viability of Garage Condominiums. So far, they have enjoyed great acceptance all over the US and Canada.

@Ted_Deits, I am a real estate developer in Houston, TX and am very interested in building a garage condo facility here. There have been several built recently and one that I am aware that just started construction. Garages of America now have 2 locations north and west, another Garage Ultimate South and a new deal called Luxe Garage Suites also north. I would be interested in chatting with you about the process and feasibility of building and what the minimum size project would be to make sense. The existing projects are all built on roughly 10 acres and 100-150K SF. I haven't reached out to the local developers as I fear they would see me as competition and will likely not be very forthcoming with information. Would you be interested in building in Texas?

 

[bams50]

This is an interesting thread to me, as we are in the planning stages of building, a “car condo” community in central New York. last spring, I started a discussion thread about it, which developed into a pretty major thread. Here’s a link to it:

Proposed Car Condo community in central New York

Hello! My name is Bob, and I am a person with over 50 years experience in the Automotive community, second generation. We have become interested in the so-called car condo communities that are growing around the country. We are looking at the feasibility of building one in Central New York...

www.garagejournal.com

In our opinion, we think this is the future of the hobby, for a bunch of reasons. Currently, we are through the hearing and permit process with the town and have our first permits in place. Preliminary estimates are that we should have room for between 180 and 200 garages. We’re still too early in the process to be able to price the units and start reaching into the marketplace, but our preliminary plans are for a base unit to be 20 wide by 20 high by 40 deep. Each one will have tubing in the floor for radiant heat, insulated with walls sheet rocked, man door +14 foot overhead door, 200 amp individual electric service, fire suppression system, and water and sewer stubbed in. Our working target is at around $150,000 for a base unit. there will also be an HOA fee for exterior of the building, and the ground, to include landscaping,, plowing, security gate, etc. with a target of about $200 per month. Until we get to the stage where engineers can estimate the cost of sewer systems, and the electricals systems, we won’t be able to be really sure about cost.

The garage will be the largest part of an entire community. At the front of the property will be a large climate controlled, humidity controlled, high-end car storage concierge service. It’s a brand new building, purpose, built including high-level security systems. Also, in the plan is a full service convenience store, including diesel, ethanol free fuel, and electric car charging stations. Eventual plans are for an individually owned repair shop, outside fenced storage, maybe some mini storage, climate controlled storage for large RVs and boats, and room for possibly more auto enthusiast related businesses. Plans are to break ground on the first building, the storage building, this spring, ready to accept vehicles by this fall. Always interested in discussion on this subject.

 

[bams50]

Update: things have progressed with our garage condo community, and we are moving forward. A little inside scoop, we will be unveiling the project in a couple weeks at the Syracuse Nationals. The official name is The Garages of CNY, located in Scriba NY. Plans are for a capacity of approximately 180 individually owned garage units surrounding a proposed private race track, in the model of The Motor Enclave in Tampa, AMP in Atlanta, M1 Concourse in Pontiac, and others around the country. If you're at the Nats and wondering what the plans are, stop by our table in the Center of Progress building. The goal is to begin to compile a list of interested parties, to determine feasibility and how best to move forward. I will be there all three days to personally answer any questions.

We know that there will be hundreds of questions, way too many to answer here. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT: we want to build what people want, creating a permanent contribution to the automotive enthusiast world. Serious buyers will be the ones who determine exactly what that will look like. Our team, myself especially, stand ready to answer questions and discuss details, including pricing; a forum is not the place to do so. At this point we do not have a website up and running just yet, but we do have a recently created Facebook page, where we have started posting some info, more to come. Please be patient, we are lifelong car guys, not professional content creators, but we will get there!

Thank you for reading, and thank you to all who responded over the course of this thread, started over a year ago. Onward! Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560233272493

Sincerely,
Robert K. Andrews
The Garages of CNY

 

[zoomzoom22]

There is a Garages of Texas (garage condo) site across 620 from Lakeway. GoT has a number of sites across the state. They are also building garage condos at COTA but I don't even want to know the price for those lol.

I am the developer of the ones across the street from the race track… They figured it was such a good idea and popular so they decided to build their own. Come by sometime for a visit? Our prices best in city and so are our builds

 

[zoomzoom22]

I'd think most new garage condo units have fire sprinklers, I know the https://automotorplex.com/ here in the Minneapolis area does.

One reason why is no sprinkler system the mezzanine is only allowed per national building code to be 1/3 the size of the downstairs. Sprinklers = 1/2. This is why you see a lot of garage condos built with no second floor at all (shell) or with very small (11-13’ or 14-16’ deep most of the time) mezzanines.