xtremek
Well-known member
That shot really shows how tight it is between the different buildings.
Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The Mary Kay Garage
- Thread starter pickles
- Start date
Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
captain14
Well-known member
Greta shot! Thanks
How many other garages on your alley are designed with two or more floor?
How many other garages on your alley are designed with two or more floor?
wasfast
Well-known member
Will the roof also serve as a patio space?
Captain: Coach houses, meaning a building with living space over the garage, are rare. The building to the right is the only one on my block. It’s rarer still in that it has two floors of living space over the garage. I can only remember seeing a three story coach house one or two other times in the city. There are six or seven garages with roof decks on my block.
Wasfast: Yes. There will be a deck on top of the garage. There will a a flight of stairs in the back yard to access the roof deck. The set up will be very similar to the garage on the left of the photo above.
Wasfast: Yes. There will be a deck on top of the garage. There will a a flight of stairs in the back yard to access the roof deck. The set up will be very similar to the garage on the left of the photo above.
Some nice updates and it's moving at a decent pace. I'd imagine they have other jobs and yours may be a filler job.
It looks like the CMU block is 6" wide ? Maybe you said that and I missed it earlier.
It looks like the CMU block is 6" wide ? Maybe you said that and I missed it earlier.
My masonry crew was back at it, both today and last Friday although both days were cut short by rain. Nonetheless they have finished the portion of the parapet wall facing the alley. 
The next couple of days are supposed to be nice and I’m really hoping that they can finish the rest of the masonry work this week.
The next couple of days are supposed to be nice and I’m really hoping that they can finish the rest of the masonry work this week.xtremek
Well-known member
They're moving pretty quickly, all things considered. Bet you're looking forward to the end.
I seriously think that might kill him.
Chrisb62
Well-known member
I’m actually am somewhat serious when I say might kill him. When my neighbors (meaning the husband and wife in the coach house) got notice of the garage we were building they really wanted to talk to my wife. She is much nicer than I am and I think they hoped to get her to agree to modify our plans and build a smaller garage further from their building. My neighbors wife told my wife that the husband had been admitted to the hospital with chest pains when he originally saw our plans. True? I assume so. Maybe they were exaggerating to get some sympathy? I don’t know.
While the two windows in the earlier photo will be largely unobstructed there is a third window on that side of his house which will be mostly blocked by my wall.
While we have had disagreements I really don’t want to kill the guy. I’m expecting the masons to build that wall today or tomorrow. Will have to see if it puts home over the edge.
While the two windows in the earlier photo will be largely unobstructed there is a third window on that side of his house which will be mostly blocked by my wall.
While we have had disagreements I really don’t want to kill the guy. I’m expecting the masons to build that wall today or tomorrow. Will have to see if it puts home over the edge.
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Chrisb62
Well-known member
Maybe a cutout of a person placed so it looks into the window....... 
It is the American dream to have the best house/garage/carriage house but to block someone else from getting theirs deserves a little getting back at them. You have spoken before about not wanting to rile him up but........
It is the American dream to have the best house/garage/carriage house but to block someone else from getting theirs deserves a little getting back at them. You have spoken before about not wanting to rile him up but........
billconner
Well-known member
Regrettable but poor planning for the coach house. They're lucky Pickles didn't build a coach house as tall as theirs and block all windows on that side.
wreckdiver1321
Well-known member
This exactly. It ***** for him but it's Pickles' property and the plans have been approved, so he's kinda just got to deal with it. Living in the city, in such close proximity, that's just part of the deal.
Pickles, good on you for being as diplomatic as possible. That's not always easy when the squabbles seem so petty and so persistent.
Garage looks awesome, I'll bet you're chomping at the bit to be finished up.
rjn2649
Well-known member
Blocking his window is a bummer. They might get less air flow and it looks a bit like less natural sun.
BUT the sad fact of life is, if you live in a crowded city like Chicago, you have very little control what goes on next to you.
As far as his "chest pains" I absolutely have no empathy for what I call "martyrdom negotiations". He's going to work himself up into a frenzy and it's someone else's fault?
BUT the sad fact of life is, if you live in a crowded city like Chicago, you have very little control what goes on next to you.
As far as his "chest pains" I absolutely have no empathy for what I call "martyrdom negotiations". He's going to work himself up into a frenzy and it's someone else's fault?
xtremek
Well-known member
I live out in the country where there are three 5 acre lots, seven 10 acre lots, one 20 acre lot, and the rest are over 50 acres. And yet, we still have people make the same dumb complaints. Stupid doesn't discriminate.
What the hell do you complain about on your neighbour who is on 50 acres!? You can't even see him....
I've heard...
- Roads too dirty
- Animals too loud and or smelly
- They make noise too early
- Don't mow the yard enough(they were referring to a pasture, and no I wasn't able to be diplomatic enough to not laugh in their face)
- It goes on....
But that's off topic... progress is looking great! It's fun to follow along on builds being done by competent crews taking pride in the work
xtremek
Well-known member
^ What he said, on both accounts.
Work continued on the parapet walls the last two days. The north wall is now complete and the south wall is partially done. Most of you will notice that my neighbors window has started to be blocked. 
I was really hoping that they could complete the masonry work this week but judging from the pace of the last two days they will have at least one day next week.
I was really hoping that they could complete the masonry work this week but judging from the pace of the last two days they will have at least one day next week.billconner
Well-known member
I'm very interested in deck and how they flash it to parapet wall. Can't wait! 
xtremek
Well-known member
If I were your neighbor, I'd be tempted to put something on you wall so I'd have something to look at outside my window.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That would be vandalism; you’d be way over the property line. OP said there is something like 20” between houses.
Best bet would be frosted glass, IMO.
Best bet would be frosted glass, IMO.
xtremek
Well-known member
I get it, and know you're right. And not that I'd do it, but it still doesn't stop my temptation.
csp
Well-known member
So what do you do with all of the wires coming into the house that are currently draped over the scaffolding and parapet wall? Will the utility companies relocate them?
csp, The wires on the right feed my house - both power and internet cable. They will be rerouted under the garage. My GC laid conduit under the garage foundation and slab. Pics below. 
I believe it is my neighbors responsibility to call to get the utility companies to reroute the lines on the left which feed his property. my GC has not given me any expectation that I need to pay for doing anything with his lines so I am guessing that the utility company will pay for that? Not really sure to be honest.
I believe it is my neighbors responsibility to call to get the utility companies to reroute the lines on the left which feed his property. my GC has not given me any expectation that I need to pay for doing anything with his lines so I am guessing that the utility company will pay for that? Not really sure to be honest.
theundermount
Well-known member
Wait till he looks out those windows and sees you shagging your old lady on you newly built backyard paradise lol
HPRifleman
Member Emeritus
On the one hand, I know that when you live in the city there are compromises that have to be made because everyone is packed in so tight. But on the other hand it would **** to have a window become useless because it's now facing a brick wall.
A lot of this is just city living. We have two windows in our house that are not all that different. Here is a photo from one of them. If not for the screen I could readily put my hand out the window and touch my neighbors wall. My window is on angle from their wall but the closest edge of it is closer to their wall than my neighbors is to my garage. It’s all just part of the deal with living in the city. 
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billconner
Well-known member
iirc there is a rooftop Airstream in Chicago. Pretty safe from view being totally blocked. And row houses can be fine - only windows on front and back. Just needs good planning and design.
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captain14
Well-known member
Very similar to the windows in a light and air shaft in New York City which was required to allow occupants access to light and air in their apartments.
xtremek
Well-known member
Has anyone ever put a bridge from their house's 2nd floor to their garage top thing?
Yes. You see it but it’s my understanding that this is no longer allowed. You also see some houses where there is no backyard at all. Just one continuous garage connected to the house. I’m not sure if they let people do that anymore or not.
billconner
Well-known member
Chicago is a whole different world when it comes to building codes and zoning.
