What should be above the 2.75 car garage?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
bkshopr_IHB

bkshopr_IHB

New member
I am glad that many are excited about the BK prototype. I will continue this positive interactive process in creating a near perfect house that performs financially based on todays land economic.



The granny flat above the 2.75 or 3 car garage intrigues me. How would you use it?
 
I would use it as a granny flat. We have already spent $10,000 on an architect's designs for a accessory dwelling unit in our backyard which I'm really not sure we can afford to build or will be economical compared to purchasing a small condo nearby. An extra place for an elderly family member or a rental unit has to be the wave of the future due to the economy. This also provides for a city's quota of affordable housing, many cities are looking for ways to meet affordable unit requirements. If I were to buy another house, it would definitely have a unit for my mother who will likely be moving in with us in the next few years. I would think that this would be highly desirable for Asian people as well as many other ethnic groups who are accustomed to a much more communal lifestyle yet still want their own space. For those who can still afford it, it also provides a space for a nanny or another type of caregiver. It's just a no-brainer to me.
 
Just another question BK. We have run into parking problems with codes for extra units. The codes in our city require side by side parking (in addition to the two car garage) when adding an extra unit. We applied for a received an exception to this but would any of these rules apply to this type of new construction or would the existing garage suffice?
 
Another question because I'm not very familiar with the amenities of these options. Would there be an option to have a small but well-equipped kitchen in this unit? This, to me is essential.
 
My vote is: whatever space I could turn into a light and temperature controlled room with a sink and flat space nearby for...um...cleaning and restoring my collection. :-)



No, seriously. No windows and a half-bath and I'm a happy camper.



A granny flat or office with a half-bath for convenience would also suffice just fine.
 
[quote author="caycifish" date=1233156509]My vote is: whatever space I could turn into a light and temperature controlled room with a sink and flat space nearby for...um...cleaning and restoring my collection. :-)



No, seriously. No windows and a half-bath and I'm a happy camper.



A granny flat or office with a half-bath for convenience would also suffice just fine.</blockquote>


Don't mind the pony nutter BK, and make sure there are windows. That's what blinds and tinted UV protected windows are for.



But, what is the difference between a rental unit and a guest suite with outside stairs? I am assuming the outside stairs for the guest suite also mean a separate entrance like the rental unit would have. Am I missing something you visualize in your head, that I am not visualizing? I haven't voted since both seem to be the same to me, and could be used as either or for me too.



BTW, love these polling threads from you.
 
BK - Can you give us a reminder of how much square footage of living space the house has so far not including the area above the garage? It will determine my answer. Thank you. (I know you mentioned 1,885sf. in the first post but I'm not sure it's all livable space.)
 
What is the difference between a rental unit, a guest suite, a multigenerational suite and a granny flat? To me, these all have stairs leading to a room with a full bath that is not attached to the main house. I personally don't like the idea of a separate unit over the garage for say my kids or older family member because it seems like a "second class" area (although I'm sure the kids won't mind and would like some independence). I voted for extending the main second level to over the house because everyone could enjoy the main house and feel like a guest. At night, instead of going outside and up the stairs to the "doghouse" they just go up the stairs in the house and go to the private bedroom over the garage that's pretty far from the bedrooms in the main house. Of course my ideal home also has a MBR on the first level as well and hopefully one of BK's prototypes can accommodate such a wish.
 
^ To me the difference was that the rental unit would have to have a kitchenette, bath, and outside stairs. The guest suite needs no kitchenette but it does have a bath and it says it does have outside stairs. The multigen. suite needs no outside stairs or kitchenette but would have a bath. The home office would prob not have a closet and be set up for an office - maybe built in desk or bookcase and prob. internal access.



Graph - I think your guests would have kitchen privileges in the main house with you but your renter would not. Your renter may also have their own stackable washer and dryer but your guest would not.



That's just my guess. I look forward to finding out what he says. This is fun.
 
I don't think I want to live in a neighborhood where there owners rent rooms out. The garage room for rent sounds ideal for parolees, people under restraining orders, etc. It's always bad to have a transient population in a community.
 
[quote author="High Gravity" date=1233191935]I don't think I want to live in a neighborhood where there owners rent rooms out. The garage room for rent sounds ideal for parolees, people under restraining orders, etc. It's always bad to have a transient population in a community.</blockquote>


I guess this means that you don't want to live in most of Irvine, then?





Seems to me that you can find rental rooms in many areas of Irvine, even though most areas that currently means a shared SFR, rather than a seperate unit. Just look at craigslist for some examples...
 
[quote author="freedomCM" date=1233195559][quote author="High Gravity" date=1233191935]I don't think I want to live in a neighborhood where there owners rent rooms out. The garage room for rent sounds ideal for parolees, people under restraining orders, etc. It's always bad to have a transient population in a community.</blockquote>


I guess this means that you don't want to live in most of Irvine, then?





Seems to me that you can find rental rooms in many areas of Irvine, even though most areas that currently means a shared SFR, rather than a seperate unit. Just look at craigslist for some examples...</blockquote>


Sharing an SFR vs. a separate rental unit, especially one located in a secluded location above a detached garage with its own entry/parking, are entirely different animals. I have to believe that one would be much more careful in allowing a stranger to live under the same roof as opposed to renting a separate unit out back. If I were an aspring unibomber, such a garage unit would be just perfect. As a practical matter, I doubt any home with a separate rental unit would be approved in Irvine. Note that every new Irvine village contains massive amounts of IAC units; do you think Bren wants any competition from homeowners for renters? Such homes could exist in VOC, but not, IMHO, in a TIC village.
 
Renting out a unit in a college town like Irvine doesn't concern me. I think it would be easy to find one or two bookworm college students to occupy the unit.
 
[quote author="AVRenter" date=1233197567]Platform for a quad .50.</blockquote>


If you had a 3 car garage, you can park your quad 50 safely inside.



<img src="http://www.100thww2.org/support/898/898m51.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="graphrix" date=1233160105][quote author="caycifish" date=1233156509]My vote is: whatever space I could turn into a light and temperature controlled room with a sink and flat space nearby for...um...cleaning and restoring my collection. :-)



No, seriously. No windows and a half-bath and I'm a happy camper.



A granny flat or office with a half-bath for convenience would also suffice just fine.</blockquote>


Don't mind the pony nutter BK, and make sure there are windows. That's what blinds and tinted UV protected windows are for.



But, what is the difference between a rental unit and a guest suite with outside stairs? I am assuming the outside stairs for the guest suite also mean a separate entrance like the rental unit would have. Am I missing something you visualize in your head, that I am not visualizing? I haven't voted since both seem to be the same to me, and could be used as either or for me too.



BTW, love these polling threads from you.</blockquote>


Rental requires a dedicated path of travel from parking stall to the unit and to insure privacy for the landlord and tenant. Got to insulate those walls for banging head board in the middle of the night.
 
[quote author="fumbling" date=1233188594]What is the difference between a rental unit, a guest suite, a multigenerational suite and a granny flat? To me, these all have stairs leading to a room with a full bath that is not attached to the main house. I personally don't like the idea of a separate unit over the garage for say my kids or older family member because it seems like a "second class" area (although I'm sure the kids won't mind and would like some independence). I voted for extending the main second level to over the house because everyone could enjoy the main house and feel like a guest. At night, instead of going outside and up the stairs to the "doghouse" they just go up the stairs in the house and go to the private bedroom over the garage that's pretty far from the bedrooms in the main house. Of course my ideal home also has a MBR on the first level as well and hopefully one of BK's prototypes can accommodate such a wish.</blockquote>


many of the models in bonita canyon have this feature, sometimes with the option of the "bridge" connecting to the main house you speak of. they do often have small kitchenettes i think (or at least a sink and fridge) as well as full bath. i know several who do use the units as a guesthouse. this way the guests are free to come in and out as they please without access to the main house. i've stayed as a guest in these homes and i actually enjoyed the privacy and i was more comfortable knowing i wasn't disturbing my friends much. they still had their jobs to go to and own schedules to take care of, and it allowed me to come and go as i needed during the day. and they didn't need to leave me their keys or worry about me going in and out of their home. it's comforting to both parties. i would never want to let one of my kids live there although i'm sure every child would want that room as soon as they hit puberty.



technically, without a full bath and kitchen, it would not be a legal rental. also in practical terms, they would need access to a washer/dryer which these days is on the second floor of your main house. i'm sure people would still rent them out anyway.

<a href="http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/problems.shtml">http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/problems.shtml</a>
 
[quote author="fumbling" date=1233188594]What is the difference between a rental unit, a guest suite, a multigenerational suite and a granny flat? To me, these all have stairs leading to a room with a full bath that is not attached to the main house. I personally don't like the idea of a separate unit over the garage for say my kids or older family member because it seems like a "second class" area (although I'm sure the kids won't mind and would like some independence). I voted for extending the main second level to over the house because everyone could enjoy the main house and feel like a guest. At night, instead of going outside and up the stairs to the "doghouse" they just go up the stairs in the house and go to the private bedroom over the garage that's pretty far from the bedrooms in the main house.</blockquote>
I posted this in the other thread, but I would keep the conector hall/mud room as single story and put a indoor stairs access next to the garage to get into the 2nd floor flex space. This would cut down on the claustrophobia effect of having 3 2-story structures surrounding the backyard area.



I would also make it so that there is separate outside access to the outer side of the mudroom and lockable doors to the flex space and the main home. All these are optional so it can be used as a rental or an extension of the house. I liked casitas because it does provide that privacy if you do have a renter... but when you don't have one... not having an internal access to it from the main house makes it a waste of space... especially during the colder times of the year.
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1233286085][quote author="fumbling" date=1233188594]What is the difference between a rental unit, a guest suite, a multigenerational suite and a granny flat? To me, these all have stairs leading to a room with a full bath that is not attached to the main house. I personally don't like the idea of a separate unit over the garage for say my kids or older family member because it seems like a "second class" area (although I'm sure the kids won't mind and would like some independence). I voted for extending the main second level to over the house because everyone could enjoy the main house and feel like a guest. At night, instead of going outside and up the stairs to the "doghouse" they just go up the stairs in the house and go to the private bedroom over the garage that's pretty far from the bedrooms in the main house.</blockquote>
I posted this in the other thread, but I would keep the conector hall/mud room as single story and put a indoor stairs access next to the garage to get into the 2nd floor flex space. This would cut down on the claustrophobia effect of having 3 2-story structures surrounding the backyard area.



I would also make it so that there is separate outside access to the outer side of the mudroom and lockable doors to the flex space and the main home. All these are optional so it can be used as a rental or an extension of the house. I liked casitas because it does provide that privacy if you do have a renter... but when you don't have one... not having an internal access to it from the main house makes it a waste of space... especially during the colder times of the year.</blockquote>


I had to read this a few times inorder to understand your idea. It is a good one.



Create a vestibule between the garage and mudroom with a back stairs access to granny flat. Have an optional lockable door from vestibule to mudroom. I agree the mudroom should stay as single story to open up the yard.



I think consumers would really like this house if they had to choose between this or other products at 9.8 units/acre.
 
Yeah... sometimes I wish there was a draw function on IHB. It looks a bit like this:

<img src="http://www.edgeworld.com/ihb/bkgarage.gif" alt="" />

I couldn't draw the stairs on the inside and the architectural design would be better of course but this is the gist of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top