What do you use your garage for?

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[quote author="momopi" date=1232076199]I have a "2.5 car" tandem garage that could fit 2 vans or 3 subcompact cars, with alcove for washer/dryer/water heater to the side. I use it for storage and to park 1 car. I own 2 cars and the other one sits outside.



Commenting on BK's post, the skinniest house in USA is actually located in Long Beach, at 708 Gladys Ave. It's a 3 story, Tudor style home that measures 10 feet x 50 feet:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinny_House_(Long_Beach)



In Vancouver, Canada, the Sam Kee Building near Chinatown is measured at 4'11" at tis base and 6' wide on 2nd floor. This building is recorded as the world's narrowest commercial building:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Kee_Building



I bumped into the Sam Kee building by accident in Vancouver couple years back. Seem to recall it was occupied by a real estate agent on first floor.</blockquote>






I can't find it! Need to check address?



Here is another view of Irvine123's home.



<img src="http://freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/narrow-house1.jpg" alt="" />

<img src="

http://vcbia.brinkster.net/images/samkee.jpg"alt="" />

Sam Kee building 6' wide.
 
Many of you may not know that I got kicked off my lot in Shady Canyon. By "lot", I mean the space in the parking lot of the Golf Club where my tent was pitched. I used funds I received from TARP to purchase a detached condo in the Sage tract of Quail Hill. I've razed the former structure and hired bkshopr to build me a custom on the lot. He promised that there would be a 4-car garage.
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[quote author="acpme" date=1232081612]Many of you may not know that I got kicked off my lot in Shady Canyon. By "lot", I mean the space in the parking lot of the Golf Club where my tent was pitched. I used funds I received from TARP to purchase a detached condo in the Sage tract of Quail Hill. I've razed the former structure and hired bkshopr to build me a custom on the lot. He promised that there would be a 4-car garage.</blockquote>
Uhh.... take a number buddy... I'm first in line for a bkshopper multi-car wide garage custom home.
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1232081612]Many of you may not know that I got kicked off my lot in Shady Canyon. By "lot", I mean the space in the parking lot of the Golf Club where my tent was pitched. I used funds I received from TARP to purchase a detached condo in the Sage tract of Quail Hill. I've razed the former structure and hired bkshopr to build me a custom on the lot. He promised that there would be a 4-car garage.</blockquote>


Perfect house with a lift in the garage but just make sure you back your car out at level ONE!

<img src="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/?ACT=25&fid=7&aid=228_53bfVq4pRfgRjrVwYx5d&thumb=1&board_id=1" alt="" />
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1232081850][quote author="acpme" date=1232081612]Many of you may not know that I got kicked off my lot in Shady Canyon. By "lot", I mean the space in the parking lot of the Golf Club where my tent was pitched. I used funds I received from TARP to purchase a detached condo in the Sage tract of Quail Hill. I've razed the former structure and hired bkshopr to build me a custom on the lot. He promised that there would be a 4-car garage.</blockquote>
Uhh.... take a number buddy... I'm first in line for a bkshopper multi-car wide garage custom home.</blockquote>


I am thrilled and can't wait>



Here it is an extra bonus garage to your dream home. Your front door is to the right of the picture and just enough room for a door.

<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_MaB4FR0vPS0/SAP-Cl4dxaI/AAAAAAAADpk/H_apGawCN_c/IMG_2323.JPG" alt="" />

Drinking bleach while typing.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1232079186]

I can't find it! Need to check address?

</blockquote>


The Skinny House in Long Beach is a registered historical landmark. It's in the Rose Park Historic District of Long Beach.



<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Skinnyhouselongbeach.jpg/180px-Skinnyhouselongbeach.jpg" alt="" />



You can kind of see it from the bird's eye view here (zoom in and rotate around):



<a href="http://lalife.com/address/708_Gladys_Ave_Long_Beach_CA_90804/birdseye">http://lalife.com/address/708_Gladys_Ave_Long_Beach_CA_90804/birdseye</a>





For anyone who might want to visit, please note that this is a private residence. Despite its size, it's got 860 sq ft of space inside. It was on the market back in Oct 2001 for $225,000, and LA Times ran an article on it:



http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/29/local/me-63028





* Update: There's a refin entry for the house! You can't see it via "street view" but the bird's eye view works. Here's the sales history:



May 30, 2002 Sold $212,000 26.9%/yr Public Records

Apr 05, 1999 Sold $100,000 202.1%/yr Public Records

Dec 22, 1998 Sold $73,000 -50.1%/yr Public Records

Mar 11, 1998 Sold $125,739 2.2%/yr Public Records

Feb 17, 1994 Sold $115,000
 
3cg is for two cars and a stable of bikes, tools, Christmas crap, where else would you store your guns, and end-of-the-world supplies.





When I see a garage bursting at the seams with some savage's worthless shit I want to throw a Molotov cocktail into the middle of it.





Neighbor, "Hmm, that's odd. Every time I park my POS car in front of AVRenter's house someone draws phallic symbols all over it with surfboard wax."
 
[quote author="AVRenter" date=1232097318]Neighbor, "Hmm, that's odd. Every time I park my POS car in front of AVRenter's house someone draws phallic symbols all over it car with surfboard wax."</blockquote>
Please tell me you use green label Sex Wax.
 
After reading your posts most of you used one of the car stalls for storage. My argument is for a 3rd car location to be located in a tandem position since most will use it for storage anyway and why waste the land for a third driveway in front of the storage. A better solution is to utilize the land for a bigger yard or more space inside the house. Better yet, trade the land back for a discount on the house.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1232086775]

I am thrilled and can't wait>



Here it is an extra bonus garage to your dream home. Your front door is to the right of the picture and just enough room for a door.

<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_MaB4FR0vPS0/SAP-Cl4dxaI/AAAAAAAADpk/H_apGawCN_c/IMG_2323.JPG" alt="" />

Drinking bleach while typing.</blockquote>
Wheh's dah eemaj?
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1232107468]After reading your posts most of you used one of the car stalls for storage. My argument is for a 3rd car location to be located in a tandem position since most will use it for storage anyway and why waste the land for a third driveway in front of the storage. A better solution is to utilize the land for a bigger yard or more space inside the house. Better yet, trade the land back for a discount on the house.</blockquote>


No no no no no. I never thought I'd disagree with you, bk, but I just have to with this one. The garage is my room. It's for my stuff. It gets personal. Tandem garages just suuuuuck. Every one I've ever seen is attached to the house/garage door which means you have to walk through it to get to your vehicle. That means there's less room to store all your junk because you're constantly walking through there with babies, groceries, flame throwers...



The last thing I want are all my bikes getting in the way. Not to mention, how is it a "3rd car garage" when, if you put a 3rd car in that spot you can't get to your two main vehicles?! Also, when those animals that design the garages put in a tandem they then think it's OK to screw you over on the width of the regular garage because they've graciously given you extra room to walk to your cars. Last time I checked vehicle doors opened horizontally which is why the 3rd space should be <em>next</em> to the other vehicles! You would think it would be standard that everyone in the vehicle could exit/enter the vehicle while in the garage not out in the driveway in the elements like a bunch of peasants.



Front yard space is nice but not at the expense of my garage space. And I don't want to trade the land back for a discount - I just want a simple 3-car garage. That's all I ask, for the love of God (We've been keeping an eye on LR lately and I've come to the realization that I'm probably going to have to buy a bigger house (or older) than I'd like just to get a damned 3rd spot so I'm a little aggravated).



Would someone please mail me a voodoo doll with "garage designer" labeled on it? If you could include some matches and sandpaper I'd appreciate it.
 
[quote author="AVRenter" date=1232116564][quote author="bkshopr" date=1232107468]After reading your posts most of you used one of the car stalls for storage. My argument is for a 3rd car location to be located in a tandem position since most will use it for storage anyway and why waste the land for a third driveway in front of the storage. A better solution is to utilize the land for a bigger yard or more space inside the house. Better yet, trade the land back for a discount on the house.</blockquote>


No no no no no. I never thought I'd disagree with you, bk, but I just have to with this one. The garage is my room. It's for my stuff. It gets personal. Tandem garages just suuuuuck. Every one I've ever seen is attached to the house/garage door which means you have to walk through it to get to your vehicle. That means there's less room to store all your junk because you're constantly walking through there with babies, groceries, flame throwers...



The last thing I want are all my bikes getting in the way. Not to mention, how is it a "3rd car garage" when, if you put a 3rd car in that spot you can't get to your two main vehicles?! Also, when those animals that design the garages put in a tandem they then think it's OK to screw you over on the width of the regular garage because they've graciously given you extra room to walk to your cars. Last time I checked vehicle doors opened horizontally which is why the 3rd space should be <em>next</em> to the other vehicles! You would think it would be standard that everyone in the vehicle could exit/enter the vehicle while in the garage not out in the driveway in the elements like a bunch of peasants.



Front yard space is nice but not at the expense of my garage space. And I don't want to trade the land back for a discount - I just want a simple 3-car garage. That's all I ask, for the love of God (We've been keeping an eye on LR lately and I've come to the realization that I'm probably going to have to buy a bigger house (or older) than I'd like just to get a damned 3rd spot so I'm a little aggravated).



Would someone please mail me a voodoo doll with "garage designer" labeled on it? If you could include some matches and sandpaper I'd appreciate it.</blockquote>


Don't blame the architect, blame the planners who approved the "32 lots per acre" developments that prevent more than the narrowest garage door opening legally allowed from being included. It's almost like they are using vehicle specs from the 1920's.
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1232029517][quote author="stepping_up" date=1232020049][quote author="tmare" date=1232019199]The two car garage holds the pool table and all of the baby crap I need to get rid of. I really wish the cars were there, but it just never seems to happen. The driveway can hold at least 4 cars although not side by side. I've always dreamed of having the cars in the garage, I guess I'll have to keep dreaming.</blockquote>


My mom is a hoarder and always buying us tons of crap. When I tell her that I don't have room for something she brings up our garage. I tell her that we want to park in there once we get an automatic garage door opener and she always argues with me that people don't use their garages for cars, rather to store stuff. Even though we store stuff in our garage, we could fit two cars in it. Driving into it is another story. Do we really all have that much stuff that we have to pile it in the garage?</blockquote>


Yes, mothers. We have to take everything in the house to the Goodwill just before Christmas because my mom thinks that if one of something is good, we must be able to use ten. It's a battle we have agreed to lose, there is really very little she enjoys anymore. Giving us crap is one of her greatest pleasures in life.</blockquote>


OMG, we're sisters and didn't even know it! I'm just astounded at the quantity and redundancies of things she gives us. In the last six months she has given us 20 dish towels. Peelers were on clearance so she thought we could use a few more 'cause you never know when you want to have a peeling party. I still have a three year supply of bath stuff from the kick she went on last year and I'll never have to buy another candle as long as live because that was another favorite for a while.
 
[quote author="Oscar" date=1232123990]



Don't blame the architect, blame the planners who approved the "32 lots per acre" developments that prevent more than the narrowest garage door opening legally allowed from being included. It's almost like they are using vehicle specs from the 1920's.</blockquote>


Fair enough, but the architects could at least try to put the door in the middle of the garage and the tandem by itself in the corner. Hey, if you send me enough voodoo dolls I'll blame anyone you want.
 
My wife and I looked many new homes before we bought ours. Most of the dettached homes with size above 2750 have 3 car garages ( one tandem). The problem is most people convert the third tandem into a hobby room, guest bedroom, study, etc. I guess it also adds more resale value due to the extra room. Our house come with 3 car garage, but we converted the tandem to a bedroom with full shower. we use that bedroom maybe couple times a year, but my second car sits on the drive way 365 days a year.
 
OMG, we're sisters and didn't even know it! I'm just astounded at the quantity and redundancies of things she gives us. In the last six months she has given us 20 dish towels. Peelers were on clearance so she thought we could use a few more 'cause you never know when you want to have a peeling party. I still have a three year supply of bath stuff from the kick she went on last year and I'll never have to buy another candle as long as live because that was another favorite for a while.</blockquote>


Glad to know there's someone else out there who understands. My friends think she's nuts, the funny thing is she has started giving my friends who she barely knows numerous crappy gifts also. I love her, but it is crazy.
 
[quote author="AVRenter" date=1232116564][quote author="bkshopr" date=1232107468]After reading your posts most of you used one of the car stalls for storage. My argument is for a 3rd car location to be located in a tandem position since most will use it for storage anyway and why waste the land for a third driveway in front of the storage. A better solution is to utilize the land for a bigger yard or more space inside the house. Better yet, trade the land back for a discount on the house.</blockquote>


No no no no no. I never thought I'd disagree with you, bk, but I just have to with this one. The garage is my room. It's for my stuff. It gets personal. Tandem garages just suuuuuck. Every one I've ever seen is attached to the house/garage door which means you have to walk through it to get to your vehicle. That means there's less room to store all your junk because you're constantly walking through there with babies, groceries, flame throwers...



The last thing I want are all my bikes getting in the way. Not to mention, how is it a "3rd car garage" when, if you put a 3rd car in that spot you can't get to your two main vehicles?! Also, when those animals that design the garages put in a tandem they then think it's OK to screw you over on the width of the regular garage because they've graciously given you extra room to walk to your cars. Last time I checked vehicle doors opened horizontally which is why the 3rd space should be <em>next</em> to the other vehicles! You would think it would be standard that everyone in the vehicle could exit/enter the vehicle while in the garage not out in the driveway in the elements like a bunch of peasants.



Front yard space is nice but not at the expense of my garage space. And I don't want to trade the land back for a discount - I just want a simple 3-car garage. That's all I ask, for the love of God (We've been keeping an eye on LR lately and I've come to the realization that I'm probably going to have to buy a bigger house (or older) than I'd like just to get a damned 3rd spot so I'm a little aggravated).



Would someone please mail me a voodoo doll with "garage designer" labeled on it? If you could include some matches and sandpaper I'd appreciate it.</blockquote>


I am a neo traditional Urbanist and garages IMO have been a driving force that led to our unfriendly sub-culture in suburbia. I posted on its psychological effect on occupants and behavior that alienate friendliness with neighbors. I studied neighborhoods throughout this country ranging from some small towns America to Irvine and everywhere in between. Culture of cars and parking led to strip malls, wider street, unsightly parking lots, demise of public transportation, and pedestrians.



People say that someday that they will get rid of their storage and reclaim that third stall. Storage is like an addiction and habit will not stop. It is often a subject that started quarrels between husband and wife. I surveyed this subject for many years few have actually and successfully reclaimed that sacred third spot for car but instead eventually losing the second stall from storage encroachment.



I agree with you the man door access should be relocated away from the Tandem space so the storage is a destination rather than a walk thru. The width should also be 12? wider than the current 10? to actually allow car door swings and ample walking room on both sides of the vehicle. The 3 car wide driveway is totally unnecessary and the 3 car wide garage ruins the charm and the aesthetic of a home. The cost of your 3 cars side by side configuration is about $100,000 for the vacant driveway and the extra length of road associated. Cost is much more expensive by using a deeper beam for spanning across 30? instead of 20?.



The only disadvantages that I see with the tandem scheme are when the 3rd stall is for the 3rd car and storage of bikes, carts, and other recreation toys with wheels that having a garage door makes a lot of sense.



I do not like the sight of opened garages and seeing people?s storage. I prefer to see porches instead of garage doors. Yes it is a hassle and not as convenient in a tandem situation but are we as a society getting to be so lazy?



<img src="http://www.vintagehomes.net/images/floral-park-brick-house.jpg" alt="" />

I would rather deal with hardship in order to see this all over my neighborhood than to see this below



<img src="http://newhomessection.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/2008/06/new-home-for-sale-in-arizona-showing-white-house-with-red-tile-roofing-and-three-car-garage.jpg" alt="" />
 
^ You have a good point, BK. The first picture looks much better than what you usually see across the street these days



<img src="http://www.killingtime.com/Pegu/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/messy-garage1.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="AVRenter" date=1232116564]

No no no no no. I never thought I'd disagree with you, bk, but I just have to with this one. The garage is my room. It's for my stuff. It gets personal. Tandem garages just suuuuuck. Every one I've ever seen is attached to the house/garage door which means you have to walk through it to get to your vehicle. That means there's less room to store all your junk because you're constantly walking through there with babies, groceries, <strong>flame throwers</strong>...

</blockquote>


<img src="http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=tbn&q=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/rockout1973/el_panda_flamethrower_wallpaper.jpg&usg=AFQjCNHcG5gP66iOep0FpMECqAFgatiO6w" alt="" />
 
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