How to find large-ish garage/shop space for rent? (2024)

Running into a problem.

My friend and i have outgrown our 2 car garage that we currently share. (Pic below)

The best solution i can find on Craigslist is this: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/prk/2722001180.html

Still not really big enough. We have a tire changer, big air compressor, at least 3 toolboxes, multiple engines, two big project cars, etc etc etc.

And he wants to build another car. Ground up, bare chassis, the like.

We DO have a third person that would want to get in on this as well. He does cages, welding, and general fab work.

I think we're looking for 1000sq ft minimum.

WHERE do we even find this kind of space available for rent? Am i going to run into an issue where anything that big is likely going to be zoned commercial and as such, jack the price through the roof?

This stuff has got to be out there, i just don't even know where to look. Craigslist is not being helpful.

Where we are now:

Hopefully others will have better news, but the last time I was looking for that sort of thing, it was all either too expensive and/or wouldn't allow us to do anything as horrifyingly dangerous as work on cars...

Of course, this is exactly the sort of thing that varies with regions, municipalities, local real estate markets, etc, so I cross my fingers for you.

You don't even want to know what a shop of that size would go for around here I would rent the three bay in a second at that price.

As for your needs might want to look into a small warehouse and bring in the other person to drive down the average cost per person.

Good luck Paul B

Toyman01 wrote: We rent our 1000 sf heated and cooled warehouse with office for $850.00 a month. It's in one of those strip units in a commercial district. Split three ways that's not too bad. We could get a cheaper one, but not with the AC and heat.

Something like this?

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/prk/2740401288.html

I gotta admit that's a bit more than i was wanting to pay, simply because i'm currently renting another 2 car garage at my apartment for another $95 a month, and i can't get out of that one since it was worked into my lease.

If i could get out of the apartment garage, i'd be fine with it, not sure how friend would feel about paying that much. (We currently split $250/month for our two car)

$250 is a pretty good deal.

Probably going to be a case of just waiting for the right deal to come along. Good luck.

jamscal Dork
12/9/11 5:00 p.m.

We have a similar site to this in Louisville that is pretty good for commercial listings:

Here's a quick search for you:

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Search/SearchResults.aspx#/Indianapolis,IN/Industrial/For-Lease/c!ARYC$BAQ

You'll need to narrow down the listings to your preferences.

-James

Toyman01 wrote: $250 is a pretty good deal. Probably going to be a case of just waiting for the right deal to come along. Good luck.

I'd like to try to make the 1300sq ft space work. I'll see what i can figure out.

$250 isn't actually a great deal for our current space anymore. It was before the economy tanked, but 2 car garages can be found often around here for $100/month.

jrw1621 SuperDork
12/9/11 5:24 p.m.

$550 for 1150sq West side outside the loop.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/off/2689898032.html

$500 for 1500sq in Shelbyville
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/off/2741423985.html

$395 and two months free for 900 sq but can not be automotive TO THE PUBLIC but does that mean it allows hobby use?
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/off/2736639184.html
The two fee months gives you and annualized cost of $329 per month.

You have this to look forward to.

Moving the shop. I'm in the process of moving mine. I'll finish loading tomorrow. I just hope I run out of junk before I run out of room, and my old shop was only 12 X 16.

Toyman01 wrote: You have this to look forward to. Moving the shop. I'm in the process of moving mine. I'll finish loading tomorrow. I just hope I run out of junk before I run out of room, and my old shop was only 12 X 16.

I don't even want to think about it...

We've got a 2jz, a BP, a K8, a KLZE, and a 3sgte to move.

Then 3 transmissions.

He's also a drifter, so there's about 80 tires upstairs. We've probably got 30-40 wheels in there.

jrw1621 wrote: $550 for 1150sq West side outside the loop. http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/off/2689898032.html $500 for 1500sq in Shelbyville http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/off/2741423985.html $395 and two months free for 900 sq but can not be automotive TO THE PUBLIC but does that mean it allows hobby use? http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/off/2736639184.html The two fee months gives you and annualized cost of $329 per month.

Oh..... i was looking in the wrong section!

I didn't think to look commercial because i wasn't opening a business. Though... maybe we should? But i hate wrenching so much.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

Ha!, I already moved the 2 Mazda transmissions, the 12A rotary, the AC VW engine, a complete MerCruiser outdrive set with 350 Chevy engine, the big welding machine, the air compressor, the Yamaha 500cc engine, the three sets of 4 X 110 wheels, and a bunch of other stuff. This is just what was on the shelves and benches in the shop, my tools, and my mill and lathe. Needless to say the building was full and the main reason I moved. The new house has a 26' X 26' shop in the back yard as well as a two car garage attached to the house.

Toyman01 wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:Ha!, I already moved the 2 Mazda transmissions, the 12A rotary, the AC VW engine, a complete MerCruiser outdrive set with 350 Chevy engine, the big welding machine, the air compressor, the Yamaha 500cc engine, the three sets of 4 X 110 wheels, and a bunch of other stuff. This is just what was on the shelves and benches in the shop, my tools, and my mill and lathe. Needless to say the building was full and the main reason I moved. The new house has a 26' X 26' shop in the back yard as well as a two car garage attached to the house.

Nice!!!!

This is pretty par for the course. I forgot the motorcycle, tire machine, hoist, air compressor...

Graefin10 wrote: My suggestion is to ask everyone you run into. You never know who might give you a lead. I found 3 shops when I needed them that way. All were very reasonable to rent. The last one was an old service station with 3 large bays a storeage room, office, and two restrooms for 350.00. The best part was it was on a very busy highway which helped me to sell many cars, motorcycles, boats, and even a couple of motorhomes. I was just driving around looking for a shop and the previous renter was moving out at the time.

Thanks Graefin!

Now... the only problem is actually being outside during daylight instead of working.

jrw1621 SuperDork
12/9/11 5:50 p.m.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Oh..... i was looking in the wrong section! I didn't think to look commercial because i wasn't opening a business. Though... maybe we should? But i hate wrenching so much.

I key-worded in on "warehouse" and then did another search with "overhead" for overhead door in the entire posting.

This doesn't help. But.

Move to Denver. Join Club Workshop. I have a lift, work space, tools, metal shop, wood shop, tire changer, air, CNC router, CNC plasma cutter, MIG, TIG... you get the idea.

Costs me, gosh, not sure I remember exactly - want to say $80 a month.

Yeah. Sorry. Not really helping. But I do feel very lucky.

fast_eddie_72 wrote: This doesn't help. But.Move to Denver. Join Club Workshop. I have a lift, work space, tools, metal shop, wood shop, tire changer, air, CNC router, CNC plasma cutter, MIG, TIG... you get the idea. Costs me, gosh, not sure I remember exactly - want to say $80 a month. Yeah. Sorry. Not really helping. But I do feel very lucky.

Would i be able to STORE 2-3 cars there?

That's the other problem/want here.

I'd like to keep the Escort and Celica at the "shop." Race cars stay at the shop. The Miata can stay at the garage at the apartment. Jeep and MX6 stay in the parking lot.

Yup. Indoor or outdoor. Outdoor is cheap. Something that doesn't add up to enough to worry about. Can't remember exactly. Indoor it's more, and to tell the truth, it's getting too crowed in there. I'd like to see some of them go.

The Celica lived over there while I rebuilt the engine... the second time. Probably sat there for two months- outdoors. Worked out great.

fast_eddie_72 wrote: Yup. Indoor or outdoor. Outdoor is cheap. Something that doesn't add up to enough to worry about. Can't remember exactly. Indoor it's more, and to tell the truth, it's getting too crowed in there. I'd like to see some of them go. The Celica lived over there while I rebuilt the engine... the second time. Probably sat there for two months- outdoors. Worked out great.

Outdoor would = no bueno, sadly.

You know, another thought that might actually help.

Would you have enough space where you are now if you stored some of the stuff you just need to store? I have a big storage locker that I have all my race stuff in - tires, tire trailer, engine stand and hoist. Loads of stereo projects in there too. You could get a storage space for engines and such that are just need to be stored and haul them over to the garage when you're ready to work on them.

Cars too- there are loads of outdoor auto storage lots and they're usually cheap.

fast_eddie_72 wrote: You know, another thought that might actually help.Would you have enough space where you are now if you stored some of the stuff you just need to store? I have a big storage locker that I have all my race stuff in - tires, tire trailer, engine stand and hoist. Loads of stereo projects in there too. You could get a storage space for engines and such that are just need to be stored and haul them over to the garage when you're ready to work on them. Cars too- there are loads of outdoor auto storage lots and they're usually cheap.

I could store stuff in the garage at the apartment.

Problem with that is the multiple trips back and forth with the Jeep, and the apartment is a good 30-40 minutes away from the current garage.

All in all, it's just not a great situation and wastes a lot of time.

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