Above 1200 Sq/FT Thomas' garage projects (Canada)

[JohnnieMo]

What do these units sell for? I've always had a hankerin' for one.

 

[TomcoPDR]

What do these units sell for? I've always had a hankerin' for one.

Going up there on Sat, let me grab their current sales sheet and scan it for ya. Hope you'll hop on board

 

[JohnnieMo]

Going up there on Sat, let me grab their current sales sheet and scan it for ya. Hope you'll hop on board

I looked on the map and that place is about 8 minutes from my office in Harvest Hills!

 

[TomcoPDR]

What do these units sell for? I've always had a hankerin' for one.

At the clubhouse now (May 19, 2018) these would be current.

 

[55cadillacking]

Sign me up for #20 in Phase 3, please.

 

[TomcoPDR]

May, 2018

Phase 3, North facing. Prepping for wall pour, it's so hot out that someone had to hose down the cement to keep it moist till the sun went down.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: how is the steam shower working and I bet it was nice on the few times last winter you got to use it if you did.

looks like the project is still moving forward nicely and since you're building is about 95% full have you met many of your new neighbors?

instead of thinking about the view windows in Phase 3 that might only look at a new building next to it in the future my suggestion is to keep what you got and concentrate on spending any extra cash you have on a new condo in a better area or with a view or both or sell the garage condo and buy yourself a piece of some mountain where you can build a huge garage and a small house. my guess is you don't want to go out of the city so the condo plan which you've talked about a lot seems like a good one.

best of luck and hope you are getting some use out of your garage condo now that your weather is better and you are around home more often for work.

do Canadians celebrate Memorial Day too like the USA or maybe not?

cheers

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: how is the steam shower working and I bet it was nice on the few times last winter you got to use it if you did.

looks like the project is still moving forward nicely and since you're building is about 95% full have you met many of your new neighbors?

instead of thinking about the view windows in Phase 3 that might only look at a new building next to it in the future my suggestion is to keep what you got and concentrate on spending any extra cash you have on a new condo in a better area or with a view or both or sell the garage condo and buy yourself a piece of some mountain where you can build a huge garage and a small house. my guess is you don't want to go out of the city so the condo plan which you've talked about a lot seems like a good one.

best of luck and hope you are getting some use out of your garage condo now that your weather is better and you are around home more often for work.

do Canadians celebrate Memorial Day too like the USA or maybe not?

cheers

We don't have Memorial Day, however, the week before we got a holiday Victoria Day (Queen Victoria's birthday)... I was in California visiting my brother, and then visited a friend in Lake Tahoe (week before Memorial). The scenary looks similar to mountains around Alberta, imo.

Back to Vaults, and summer time.

Starting to get friends randomly texting "Hey are you at the Vaults? Can I stop by and hang?" I don't have any nice cars myself, for now, I'd rather build appreciating assets in life, than cool toys that costs $$ to maintain. Of course ultimately would love to have a car collection, and properly just as cool private storage facility as those demonstrated in GJ.

And I think this pic is cool to post. One of the trades had this unit open (they try keeping it close as much as possible lol), so development corporation got rid of their temporary seacan containers, and used an unsold unit installed some Costco style racking, to put all their building materials in; full wifi cameras inside as I'm sure electrical stuff are quite costly. Not to mention newly bought Hilti tools (lots of concrete coring related with this building), their own scissor lifts etc. Kinda like a trades business unit. To think eventually, some car collector or hobbyist would own this unit and dress it up.

Pretty cool latest pic from this week. From developer's FB. Aerial shot, phase 1 and phase 2 (street South side) buildings complete. Phase 3 (north) walls poured, waiting to be craned vertically in place.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Something random to do. Waiting for traffic to die down (moved into downtown apartment, listing suburb bungalow for sale)

From doing the stairs, got a good half dozen of these end pieces of stairs edge nosing left over I haven’t thrown out.

An hour or two of grinding, turned a strip or two into wine glass holders. Free materials, elbow grease, (already own tools so can’t really count that). But I’m sure ikea will haven’t something for under $5 five bucks lol

Unfortunately managed to break a glass along the way.

 

[shortykorte]

Working on shop projects in the kitchen, for shame. Lol. Stairs looking good. A day At Tahoe is always a nice day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: nice to hear you've moved to downtown to see how you like it before buying and hope you do. also living downtown while you are trying to sell your home might give you some inside information on properties coming on the market sooner in case your house sells.

nice looking glass holder and how does drinking rum (or whiskey) out of a wine glass taste?

thanks for the aerial pic of your VAULTS and is that the developer's drone or yours or were you just flying low over the site in a friend's plane?

take care!!

 

[TomcoPDR]

Working on shop projects in the kitchen, for shame. Lol. Stairs looking good. A day At Tahoe is always a nice day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tom: nice to hear you've moved to downtown to see how you like it before buying and hope you do. also living downtown while you are trying to sell your home might give you some inside information on properties coming on the market sooner in case your house sells.

nice looking glass holder and how does drinking rum (or whiskey) out of a wine glass taste?

thanks for the aerial pic of your VAULTS and is that the developer's drone or yours or were you just flying low over the site in a friend's plane?

take care!!

Thanks for the posts fellows. drives the Drone shots are developer's, (don't quote me), but I think high quality drones (imho, the $3,000+ types; not the Bestbuy/toy store $599 specials), you'll have to follow drone operational guidelines, let alone maybe some type of permit.

For myself, I'm always one of those kids who'd smash up all my costly R/C cars. So as an adult, I'd like to play with the high end ones, but can't justify spending these $1,999+ amounts. But no interest in playing with the Bestbuy specials. I just love watching friends on FB going to these professional drone competitions


Yeah, the bungalow house with 560 sqft triple garage is listed on market. Well, bought the downtown condo apartment, so now a game of stretching the wallet.


I've missed raising of walls for phase 1 and 2. They're going to do it for phase 3 tomorrow, they got authorization/booked it with Calgary Airport Authority (property is within flight path).

The Mammoth getting ready for tomorrow's wall lift (not sure if this truck is the same brand), developer said $7,500,000 million for this piece of machinery. Well, they're hiring the crane company.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Photos of Phase 3 walls being put up. Finally able to attend watching this in person.

(hope I'm quoting correctly), a 500 tonne crane, which costs $7,500,000 (Cdn)

Pretty neat developer owner let me on site lol... (with hard hat, steel toes, safety vest)

It's been exactly 2 years since I made my purchase commitment (June, 2016). The developer did exactly what they promised, imho. Exactly what I had in mind of this project.

Developer's FB drone pics, I left them in higher resolutions.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: congrats on the purchase of your new condo and hope your old home sells pretty quickly for a good price.

hard to believe that machine costs $7.5 million, but it does do some fine work doesn't it.

thanks for the pictures.

in the aerial shot it looks like a big green space not too far away is it a park cause doesn't look like a golf course?

any pics of the new condo??

also in case it takes a while to sell your old home can you lease it or Air BNB it?

not sure if you visit 1/2 Cup's Shed Downunder, but he's been testing a drone for his Australian power company and if I recall correctly the drone costs about $60,000 so a bit spendy to say the least.

cheers and sending a couple prayers that your house deals work out and your life improves with it's new direction.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: congrats on the purchase of your new condo and hope your old home sells pretty quickly for a good price.

hard to believe that machine costs $7.5 million, but it does do some fine work doesn't it.

thanks for the pictures.

in the aerial shot it looks like a big green space not too far away is it a park cause doesn't look like a golf course?

any pics of the new condo??

also in case it takes a while to sell your old home can you lease it or Air BNB it?

not sure if you visit 1/2 Cup's Shed Downunder, but he's been testing a drone for his Australian power company and if I recall correctly the drone costs about $60,000 so a bit spendy to say the least.

cheers and sending a couple prayers that your house deals work out and your life improves with it's new direction.

Can't believe how quick time flies... really sorry for the lack of update. That was my summer contracting work season, just heads down and work

So the suburbia bungalow with detached triple garage FINALLY sold last week (deal closed, $ in bank, etc.) It was listed May, 2018 till now Dec, 2018.

Going to miss this place (bungalow triple detach); here are some realtor paid and staged pics.

Drives: I'll have to catch up on downtown condo pics later time. I should get back to updating Vaults garage condo, on GJ though.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Dec, 2018. The Vaults garage condo. The perimeter concrete building walls are up. Only the middle bays left to put walls.

Here are some pics I took last week.

To the far end, is a small secondary entrance. Main bigger entrance to the left of photo

Standing at the main bigger door entrance, to the left corner is secondary smaller door

Looking at secondary entrance in the exterior corner

Developer's photos on their fb. Middle courtyard bay floors being pour

 

[drivesitfar]

TOM: Congrats on your home selling so maybe your bank account won't be screaming for help as much.

I'm looking forward to all your cool updates on your new condo and the garage condo too.

how are the new neighbors at both places? also i bet the Garage Vaults will be nice and cozy when it's all ENCLOSED and you have a bunch of new neighbors with cool cars and hopefully good personalities to match.

cheers

 

[PhantomEB]

That green space on the horizon to the west is farmers field, train tracks, protected creek valley(which protection seems to be changing day to day). My place is just beyond to the top right in the picture.

Hope this place does evolve to host weekend events when it’s completely wrapped around. It’s a great location!

 

[55cadillacking]

Congrats on the sale! Tough times for sellers right now so that was no small feat. Best of luck with life's next chapter for you.

 

[TomcoPDR]

drivesitfar, PhantomEB, 55cadillacking, All:


Tucked away in California visiting brother and relatives for and new years.

Thought I'd escape from our snowy weather.

But this year, Calgary isn't too bad. This is January 13, 2019 in Calgary. Just random walks at the park.

Back to Garage discussions. Went to the Vaults late last night to organize stuff. Pulled into the courtyard, turned around, looked at the communal interior wall and thought why would anyone egg their own complex.

Upon further investigation, it wasn't something I'd expected.

These properties are moving slower than residential, and other (regularly built) warehouse units. I think (don't quote me) the developer bought the land 2013-2014 ish, I was the second unit to sign on board in June, 2016. And as the builder's website lists, there're still a decent amount of units. (the perimeter units, I'd say physically, could be finished and occupied by Summer 2019. The inside ones, are only floor poured as of last night, but all services ready.

I'm losing a bit of steam on what major spending to add to my unit (I believe, there's only so much money you can put in, till you won't get those fixtures investment back). I'm actually tinkering around with my realtor to look for a regular warehouse bay lol (sorry gang)… But these things takes time, so it's most likely be into next year if not longer, especially the slow movement of specialty niche like Vaults it would be to resell.

In the mean time, just been buying random low end Wayfair (pretty good service btw; like don't expect high end, just consumable/throw away furnishings I would call them) items to dress up the downtown apartment highrise. drivesitfar Sorry, haven't had time to snap pics of the apartment and surrounding, the complex has guest house, theater room, clubhouse lounge, gym/hottub/streamroom (no swimming pool tho). Pretty decent.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: you might as well do all your moving around and thinking about it now while you don't have kids (if they are even on your radar) cause when we bought this house I thought we were only going to live here for a couple years and then move to a newer house and maybe with some acreage. then 3 more kids in 2 years added to my brides 2 sons from a prior marriage and 31 years later we are still working on this house.

once your vaults gets secured with all the walls around built I bet you might like it better especially if you find a few good guys to hang with that are also owners.

one thing I think is more important or as important as LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION is GOOD/GREAT NEIGHBORS and a community maybe where you feel like you are on vacation every day.

look forward to pics of your new place when you have time. is your flat screen a SAMSUNG?

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: you might as well do all your moving around and thinking about it now while you don't have kids (if they are even on your radar) cause when we bought this house I thought we were only going to live here for a couple years and then move to a newer house and maybe with some acreage. then 3 more kids in 2 years added to my brides 2 sons from a prior marriage and 31 years later we are still working on this house.

once your vaults gets secured with all the walls around built I bet you might like it better especially if you find a few good guys to hang with that are also owners.

one thing I think is more important or as important as LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION is GOOD/GREAT NEIGHBORS and a community maybe where you feel like you are on vacation every day.

look forward to pics of your new place when you have time. is your flat screen a SAMSUNG?

Thanks drive: Yeah, my parent's old place I grew up "mostly in" (i.e. from toddler till college) in this city, I was there 23 years. After that, it's just the same pile of bank's money transferred from one place, sick of it, move, relocate to another, etc.

Totally agree a good neighbour be it where you live, where you work, where you hang out is important.

The TV is just a Sony, whatever was on sale from Bestbuy at the time of purchase think it was only $1,000 (Cdn, so $750 ish USD?)

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: when we bought out home here my bride and I were both Realtors so LOCATION and VIEW were probably more motivation than finding good friends to live close to. if we could do it again we would probably move to a home that has GREAT NEIGHBORS even if we don't know them yet and buying a home we don't have to work on all the time so maybe we could enjoy our friends and neighbors more instead of spending most of our weekends working on the house and yard.

you'll find what works for you and try to keep the pile of funds well invested too.

we bought a 65 inch Samsung flat screen and the picture is great. we waiting 15 years to replace the huge box TV thinking about what TV to buy and now that we own this one that we can watch with the blinds open to see our view it's sure an improvement.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: when we bought out home here my bride and I were both Realtors so LOCATION and VIEW were probably more motivation than finding good friends to live close to. if we could do it again we would probably move to a home that has GREAT NEIGHBORS even if we don't know them yet and buying a home we don't have to work on all the time so maybe we could enjoy our friends and neighbors more instead of spending most of our weekends working on the house and yard.

you'll find what works for you and try to keep the pile of funds well invested too.

we bought a 65 inch Samsung flat screen and the picture is great. we waiting 15 years to replace the huge box TV thinking about what TV to buy and now that we own this one that we can watch with the blinds open to see our view it's sure an improvement.

drives I remember when I was a child, all the rich kids parents had those 50" Sony big heavy box projectors, with them 10' satellite dish in the yard. And they had to shut all the blinds in order to get a decent picture out of those. It's amazing with current led, oled, or whatever they call them now, sunlight doesn't effect view much if at all.

Here's something neat I did at the Vaults today. So just going thru phases, been tinkering around the idea of getting rid of the 2014 Silverado, just don't drive it much. It only has 16,000 (and that's KM kilometres up here)

So just preparing to get rid of the canopy/topper, might as well get some money, since most the time the truck buyer won't really value these things. (either you look at it as the total price you've sold, or they'll just ask for a discount and keep the canopy anyways... so I figured any cash I get out of it would be bonus)

Just kind of neat that within 3 days listing the topper, someone responded. Actually showed up (on time too), and happened to be the exact same color. Burgundy is such a rarely bought color too, I only got it cause it was the dealers year end clear out pricing at the time, so didn't really have a choice.

Anyway, thought it be something corky to share. We did the 2 men transfer, on these short box small toppers it's easy. **** up the tailgate, and both lift the topper inside with our backs and just walk it over hunch back.

 

[drivesitfar]

TOM: canopy sold to the right guy and sounds like a WIN WIN!! best of luck selling the truck and maybe getting some needed room in your cool condo garage too.

 

[PhantomEB]

I know you are a downtown guy, but I also know how Calgary can be.

I am speaking from personal experience, I love my little ‘15 Focus sporty car with studded ice tires, I so wish I brought another little pick up truck and just done it up a little bit. It’s more versatile and more ME!

 

[TomcoPDR]

All: Sorry for the MIA for thread updates, been super busy, I'll try to catch up.

Was at the Calgary North Vaults, and they're finally finishing the last middle courtyard units walls. (46 units; castle perimeter with middle units; two entrances into inside)

Vaults developer's social media photo of middle wall concrete pour:

Here are the photos I took, first day of middle unit wall lift. (They're aiming to be done wall lifting within 2 days). Just watching Vaults doing concrete tilt-up technique, when organized properly, it really is a quick process to build these industrial buildings. (I've read, up to 40' tall. The Vaults are 26')

 

[TomcoPDR]

Separated from the above update to avoid confusion. These are photos from Vaults developer's social media photos. Of the Vaults in Kelowna, British Columbia (BC), Canada. A 19 unit development

They've also started building a 23 unit Vaults complex in South of Calgary, Alberta as well. (no photos)

Really happy the developer's vision is coming along. Where he can take these unit designs and measurements and basically cookie cutter the same exterior look. (across the country?)

Amazing competent industrial builder, with a perfect merge adding in designers and architects that you'd find in a custom residential home build. These are photos copied from www.thevaults.ca website of other current unit owners. Some of the real ballers there, NOT MY UNIT. They're just a turnkey one stop builder, as far as I know, most if not all of these are built by the Vaults team, not just a base building, but including the interior finishing, up to the unit owner's dream and imagination.

Ok, next post will be my next "garage" related project. Hence the half year MIA. I hope my next project is something PhantomEB would be proud of. I'm both excited, and nervous at the same time about it. It's 1am so gonna catch some zzz, but the next post won't be too far behind though.

 

[TomcoPDR]

The inside courtyard units tilt-up walls are in place. (North Calgary Vaults complex)

According to the developer's siteplan, the inside courtyard will have 11 units

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: how's life treating you now that you've been in a downtown condo and have a Vault's garage to go to when you please? better than just a house in the suburbs i'm guessing?

are you still in same unit you originally bought or did you figure out how to upgrade to a view unit?

hope all is well and you are doing great.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: how's life treating you now that you've been in a downtown condo and have a Vault's garage to go to when you please? better than just a house in the suburbs i'm guessing?

are you still in same unit you originally bought or did you figure out how to upgrade to a view unit?

hope all is well and you are doing great.

Thanks Drives / All who reads my thread. And thanks Drives for your encouragement (i.e. looking at your thread, understanding people who likes garages, that projects just comes to us, we don't even search it, and these projects are just lifetime on going, they never stop)

Ok, I'm going to quote you in 3 separate posts here Drives, I think it'll minimize potential confusion.


These are from Vaults development social media photos. Their Kelowna, British Columbia, (Canada) site walls already going up. Went way quicker than the first phase of my Calgary North Vaults unit.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: how's life treating you now that you've been in a downtown condo and have a Vault's garage to go to when you please? better than just a house in the suburbs i'm guessing?

are you still in same unit you originally bought or did you figure out how to upgrade to a view unit?

hope all is well and you are doing great.

This post I've been dreading because it's going to be crazy photo intensive.

So it was a little embarrassing to post at the time, but now that phase is over, it's a little easier pill to swallow.

- So didn't wanted to mention, when I was stuck (money tied) on For Sale-ing my 2,100 sqft bungalow (with the 576 sqft detached triple garage); I started moving stuff into my mom's bigger downtown condo with a spare room. (i.e. I needed to free up money from selling the bungalow/triple garage, before I could go shopping for my own downtown condo)

So this was how I lived in the transition, lol A grown man, living in his mother's spare room in a condo; under mommy's house rules.

So after the 2,100 sqft bungalow/ 576 sqft detached triple garage house got sold, ok game on, I can officially go (home) shopping.

In the post above, I said: "for people that tinker in their garages, we don't find projects, but projects come find US"... Sooooo, here's what happened. Around January, 2019 our city got really really cold, someone within mom's high rise apartment left a window open, which caused their unit's water pex pipe bursting (it's a complex development that has two towers of 24 stories each, and about 5 lower height towers). This pex pipe bursting created water damage in a handful of about 6-9 units. (down side of communal living)

In my case however, here's where a "project" landed on my lap, ish.

During my downtown condo search, I kept track of apartments I viewed / my research, etc. The water damaged unit that I ended up buying, disappeared from MLS listing one day, so I texted my realtor asking him what type of pricing it went for not knowing the situation at that point. (because it was in the same tower as my mom's, being the good son that I am, lol, if I was staying close to mom within downtown, than might as well the same complex/towers)

Which is when the realtor found out, the listing was put on hold, because of the water damage (from above unit water pipe burst). I still insisted to see it.

Basically, I used the opportunity to write an offer that'd be cheaper (obviously) than non damaged unit. The kicker is, it was known the complex's insurance would cover the restoration; flooring, fixing drywall, paint. (yes, I'm sure condo board HOA would try to recover from the unit that caused the damage, no idea how that's going)

This is where is was embarrassing, because it's an insurance covered restoration. The restoration company in the end took a sweet *** long time. (than I originally thought). So I was still at mom's spare room. But this is what I've been up to.

During the time before the complex insurance's restoration people came in. I did minor stuff that I didn't feel would be in their way. (it took them 3-4 months to do 500 sqft of laminate flooring, and a 3x3' drywal patching)

First I painted the place, replacing the builder's plain white. If you go to photos of my 2,100 sqft bungalow, I just followed the color palette/theme. (saving money, lol, because I took the spare paint from the bungalow), of course I had to buy more to paint entire condo. Yes, I painted AROUND the restoration company's patch work. Everyday was a surprise, would I come into the condo with a full crew, or not.

Everytime I spent time in my small 500 sqft bachelor/studio condo, I had to plan it just in case the restoration company comes "tomorrow" (which they never do, lol... towards the end of my photos, you'll see I got a lot done before the restoration company even started). Luckily, I just tucked all my spare materials, spare sofa's, etc. in the living room of my mom's unit; it's just an elevator ride away.


After paint, (and no restoration company in sight)… Another neat idea opportunity presented itself. So a friend remodeling, and throwing out an old Ikea closet (the long boards were rotten on the bottom), asked for my help to disassemble and take it to the dump. By now, those who read my pages, I've just been taught to TRY recycling/reusing stuff (Repuprose). So the typical way I was raised, I might as well grabbed what I could salvage from this photo where buddy was going to toss away

Brought them to the Vaults garage condo. Not a clue wtf I was going to do with the entire closet set.

Popped in my head just to make something basic, turn 'em into simple wall shelves for my small condo. There was some modifying required at the Vaults (i.e. these shoe drawers had 1/8" thin insert bottoms, but for wall hanging shelves, I wanted solid backing, with a middle shelf)

The reason why I swapped out the thin 1/8" shoe drawer bottom insert, for a solid board, was this. (my head just turns 100 miles/hr as I build stuff)

Basically the $39 (Cdn) Amazon led light strip idea was totally on the fly, instead of just flush mounting these drawers. A random switch up of idea, to make the drawers "floating".

Because it was a wing-it repurpose reno, no design thoughts into it whatsoever. It turned out more clubbing feel than I intended. (there's a remote that can change colours, strobe, rotate colours). If I was in my 20's this would had been totally rad. lol, no idea why I'm putting DVD's there

Continues....

 

[TomcoPDR]

As days, weeks goes by, I would come up with mini projects I could do. (i.e. can make sure my tools are neatly packed up, and not spread all over the concrete floor)

So repurposed LED wall shelves done. Still no restoration company.

Because my unit doesn't have a bedroom (hotel style, open bed when you walk in bachelor design). I thought a wall built headboard was due.

Completed, no restoration company.

Keeping it PG-13... so in between working, small 500 sqft condo reno, constantly trying to downsize/cleanup the Vaults garage condo. Spending time with dates, can't go back to my mother's. This was what life resulted to for a good 5-6 weeks when I need some alone time with dates, I'm surprised it still kept their interest level.

Another short project. (I'm just hopping timelines now as well, but I'm sure readers can read between the lines here). As the drywallers from restoration came, installed Ikea cabinets in the office area.

At this point of my bachelor unit build, I'm starting to turn it into a hotel feel. Since I'm tucking my **** in my mom's unit lol (and we have 2 of those chain linked fence storage cages on site now; not very security safe, so we just put non-valuables in there), mother also allow me to use her 8'x8' office in her unit, since I run a business. So my unit can stick with a cleaner theme.

I just had to do these wall mounted hair dryer, and those fancy nose hair, brow trimming mirrors.

Then one random day (the restoration company has poor communication, our on site property management said many water damaged unit complained they were in the dark with dates of the trades)… But for me, I just took everyday as a surprise lol. So one day, going into my unit to work, lo and behold, the flooring company dropped off the laminates. (restoration company sent us to the flooring company where we could pick the colors/pattern within the insurance's allowable range)

Once the flooring was in, it was easy to start dolly everything into my unit (from mom's living room). And just budget to be out of the baseboard guy's way.

Yes, now I have no choice but to roll with this LED light strip night club/disco theme haha. Not sure why I'm so OCD/ meticulous, even took the time to put foam, caution tape around the drawers of the wall mount headboard, so the flooring guys wouldn't bump their head and blame me.

Hang some paintings. That wall mount light with the cheesy vinyl channel cord cover in the left bugs me so much, but a necessary evil. So the light switch where the thermostat is (right in photo), is one of those switches controlling an outlet, I'm so pet peeve by these, cause you turn on the switch and it does nothing; and or you go plug something in and the appliance doesn't work, because you have to go turn on the wall switch (any sparky know why it's done that way?)

Continues...

 

[TomcoPDR]

Now that summer's finally here, here's what the backyard of the apartment looks like. We're right beside a river that runs across our city.

Working our way back inside the complex, the positive side of communal living are some of the amenities that I do use, and or purposely use but enjoy. Items or dedicated rooms where you'll need to live in a million dollar single dwelling home to build. These photos I just ripped from varies MLS listings. My mom laughs, at any given time there're a good dozen units for sale at these apartments, and since every listing is paid by each unit seller, those realtors will hire their own photographers; and it's just funny where mom is like "geez, how many variation or difference in quality can these photographers make, of the same common facility" But she was shocked, even for the same gym/clubhouse/theatre/lobby facility, you'll find many levels of photography and editing skills.

Back inside my small 500 sqft condo. (can't believe moving from a 2,100 sqft; flipper reno'ed, 5 bedroom, 3 full bath, with a 576 sqft garage home); traded it for lifestyle and location I guess.

Glad this project is done and over with. So made it into a hotel/Airbnb ready feel. Since it's downtown, maybe out of town friends, co workers, or purely Airbnb my unit on a part-time bases; potentially.

Please don't judge me friends on GJ, everyone has a price, lol. And for the right price for a few days, weeks, (ONE) month, yes, I'd totally take hosting income $$, and tuck away on the twin size college bed at my mom's spare, with mom's house rules.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tom: how's life treating you now that you've been in a downtown condo and have a Vault's garage to go to when you please? better than just a house in the suburbs i'm guessing?

are you still in same unit you originally bought or did you figure out how to upgrade to a view unit?

hope all is well and you are doing great.

And for the trifecta reply, I guess in dedication and memory to 1/2 Cup (Steven), sat down 3-4 hours to upload this write up on Saturday night.

- Covered Drives' condo living update, without embarrassment (i.e. living at mom's), got my own small 500 sqft unit, reno'ed

- You're asking if I'm still in the original Vaults unit, since I've mentioned in the past, I'm thinking of getting a Vaults unit with the window where you can look outside at the mezzanine, versus windows above bay door.

So, about that. And I hope this update would interest PhantomEB as well, I know he doesn't like certain limitations that garage condos like Vaults imposes.

Within a few months, don't want to jinx things by saying too much, lol. But instead of moving Vaults different unit. I'm just going to grab another shop. It'll be a fair small size operating shop, then eventually phase out of the Vaults (i.e. when market picks up, when development sells out, etc.)

This operatable shop, is 2,000 sqft. 40' wide, 50' deep, with double bay doors. Closer to downtown, proper industrial condo bay warehouse shop, with parking assigned parking stalls. Older cinder block build 1968 ish.

Kind of excited, nervous, not wanting to get into this "project" garage/property. But broken record, sometimes projects just comes to you. Something inner downtown industrial warehouse bay like this, in small size, is harder to come by. Most of the newer, purchase-able small 2,000-5,000 sqft industrial bays are spawling to the suburbs obviously. It'd be waste of effort, to move away from suburb into downtown to live, only to buy an operational shop to drive to work in the suburbs again.

So once I gain possession, I'm going to have to remove the old cross draft paint booth. (currently spraying furniture in there, I just got no use for it in my trade)

The entire concrete floor is chipped as heck. Plus I'd like a drainage system in there since I'm in the car business, so our winter slush bugs me. (car comes into shop all snowy, then melts all over the floor)

Screenshot from the vendor's brochure.

The positive encouragement is, because I have a good connection with the Vaults developer (the whole team, the main owner), he said he'd guide me through trades/ advice as much as he can with this business build out. Hopefully with my past experience, I'd be able to wing-it (properly, legally) through this build as well. No idea what to do with my Vaults unit, please don't ask yet, lol. But, afterall, these two warehouses are completely different themes anyways; Vaults is purely private, this new to me 1968 warehouse is intended for business operations.

Wish me luck, and apologies in advance if I go MIA for a few months again during this build, but eventually, I'll still come back to update.

 

[PhantomEB]

Lmfao!

Not that you need my approval....I do like the closeness of the new place! I am looking forward to seeing what you do with this. What I really like is way closer to the craft breweries of inglewood!

 

[shortykorte]

That’s quite the update. On the twin bed, at mom’s, been there done that too. I liked your camping get away spot. You found a decent woman (or homeless) that understands the temporary setup.
I’m in a 6 unit garage condo which is nice for the social aspects but really looking forward to having the shop in the backyard. Are you going to run a business out of new place or lease to a business?
Great job on bachelor condo. You’d have a successful career as a modern hotel designer. Definitely has great AirBnB income.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[wasfast]

Can you share where/who you bought the wall mount headboard from?

 

[TomcoPDR]

Lmfao!

Not that you need my approval....I do like the closeness of the new place! I am looking forward to seeing what you do with this. What I really like is way closer to the craft breweries of inglewood!

That’s quite the update. On the twin bed, at mom’s, been there done that too. I liked your camping get away spot. You found a decent woman (or homeless) that understands the temporary setup.
I’m in a 6 unit garage condo which is nice for the social aspects but really looking forward to having the shop in the backyard. Are you going to run a business out of new place or lease to a business?
Great job on bachelor condo. You’d have a successful career as a modern hotel designer. Definitely has great AirBnB income.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Can you share where/who you bought the wall mount headboard from?

PhantomEB, shortykorte thanks. Yeah fingers crossed on the new to me, old built shop. I’m thinking it’ll be my proper work shop (business).. then hopefully roll out of the real estate aspect of the Vaults.

wasfast the headboard product is just good old Lowe’s (Canada site) online, $350 Canadian $. Shipped to apartment door. (I don’t even have a half ton truck anymore, sold it last month). Wayfair also has a comparable. I’m sure it’s all the same China makers, with a twist of a distributors name as their own product.

But I also spent $200 ish on wayfair to add in those suede plush red panels. So it’s 2 ideas/products combined.

The bed frame was simple. Just bestbuy. Whatever was on sale. Mattress was good old Costco online.

Linens were Amazon... I’m so addicted to online budget shipping nowadays. Yes some products might be $1-5 more than walking into a physical store. But for bigger items like furnitures, appliance, etc. It’s about the same price if not cheaper. Plus you’re just grabbing it at your front door. (Or at the lobby in the case of apartment, we got full time front desk with secured parcel rooms)

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: don't make yourself a stranger and take plenty of pictures of the new shop and post when you have a spare few minutes. I like the sound of the new space and the new condo especially when you get them spiffed up so best of luck with that.

it's a hard thing to move especially when you buy fixer uppers so to speak cause it not only takes up a lot of time, but it's hard to fund all the cool stuff you want to do sometimes. do the best you can and maybe selling the vaults to a good buyer will relieve some of the stress of the finances.

I (we) are still here watching and learning and if you have questions ask and maybe if we don't have the answer just by posting it will get you started on the path of searching for the best solution so you can let us know.

I know it was probably pretty cold in your part of the world this last winter and that's crazy that pipes break just by leaving a window open and hope that doesn't happen again to your new home and building.

cheers