Shared shop space or co-op garage in DC area??

[Challenga]

I just moved to the DC area and don't have a garage.  It looks like I am going to be paying out the nose for a place with a garage.  Does anyone know if there is a co-op garage or some kind of shared garage in the area where I could work on my car and store my tools without having to buy a place with a garage?  Do they have anything like that out there in the world or did i just come up with a real money making idea?? 

I am going crazy with my car and tools in storage 

Ben

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Check Craigslist for a garage in your area. That's how I found mine.

[ChallengerHK]

I think co-op garages are a thing of the past around DC. I'm not in a position to do it at the moment, but if you've got a little time I might want to share some garage space.

[Challenga]

ChallengerHK - My car is in a New Mexico storage unit at the moment, so I am in no immediate rush.  I am starting to have withdrawals, though.  Especially since I keep seeing cheap Mopar deals on CL.  It didn't keep me from buying the parts though!! hahaha. 

I wonder why they went away.  I heard about one of them through a friend, but when I called the owner up he had closed it down.  He didn't say why.

If anyone has ideas, don't hesitate to send them my way.

[ViperMan]

My option was to get a house way out in Haagerstown that had a garage.  Yeah I had a crazy commute (though from what I heard, no worse than those who lived 15 miles away from the city!!)

Couldn't stand that city for much more than a few months though - now I'm out in Pittsburgh and things are much less stressful and expensive. 

[ChallengerHK]

I think that real estate prices around the area are just too high to support something like a co-op garage any longer. When I was growing up here there was one in Hyattsville and I think one in Dumfries.

[Super Blue 72]

When I think of co-op places it reminds me of the movie Christine.


Maybe a service station that isn't too busy might let you store and work on your car there?  I know a guy that has '73 Satellite that is doing that.  If they aren't very busy, they might appreciate the extra rent money for your car. 

Some service stations that I have seen around here don't use their service bays to work on cars anymore.  They use them for storage and such, (I've seen this with some Hess gas stations) as they focus on gas and their little mini mart for profit, not servicing cars.  You might be able to work up a deal with a place like that but I would imagine issues using the lift and such with insurance problems of a non-employee working on a car there.

[Challenga]

The prices are crazy for property.  You're right that is probably the reason for the disappearance of shared garages.  Insurance prices could play a role too.  Everyone loves to sue now days.  It's a shame. 

I'm going to keep my eye out for a run down garage with an empty stall.  I tried CL, but there are so many postings in the DC area.  Searching "garage" doesn't help.

The perfect situation would be if someone had a pole barn in there back yard with project of their own.  But, if I was in the same situation I wouldn't want some stranger working in my shop with all of my tools. 

So my search continues.  Maybe if I win the lottery I will open a co-op garage with like 10 stalls and a yard.  When I was in the military they had something called the Auto Hobby Shop.  It was great.  They had everything but a paint booth.   Seems like it would be a good investment.  I am sure there are a lot of people like me out there with project cars......

[dougs bs23]

Dont know of any coop garages but there may be a shop around the millersville area that rents bay spacebut then again I'm not certain.... If I didnt already have 2 projects in my yard and one in the garage I may be inclined to let you park it here. I think the 67 mustang will be leaving this summer,   I'm really not looking forward to doing it, so,,,,,, possiblei could open up a spot later in the summer.

[Challenga]

If anyone comes across a place or knows of someone let me know.  I won't be bringing the car out here for a little while. 

Or if your situation changes in your shed or shop and you end up with an extra bay, let me know. 

Ben