Workshop Inquiry
 

Hey guys,

Just seeing if there is some legitimate interest in getting together a few guys to rent a proper workshop long term in the Vancouver area.

This won’t be cheap. I’m betting $1000 a month each (say 3-4 contributors).

Thinking of selling our place and moving back into Vancouver, and it seems workspace is a challenge. I really haven’t done too much research but some browsing around I don’t think we can do much better then 3-4k a month.

thats probably a bit too expensive for most people. at 1k that's a lease payment on a pretty nice car every month.

Unless you guys can somehow justify it financially (i.e. creating a business and charging people hours for the usage) then it might not fly.

Plus shared costs of equipment, maintenance, electricity, etc. etc.

For 1k, I'd lease two golf R

I understand that. But some people don’t want a Porsche. Lol, they’d rather build one :p

Definitely require some unique people. A membership based approach is great but way too much effort and time. Also extremely hard to keep track of your tools etc.

A workshop in the city is completely illogical. Just an expensive hobby. Lol

I am part of a makerspace with now over 100 members. We don't really do automotive because of the lack of space yet.

I would go with more members. With Automotive car storage is going to be a problem. Is this going to be a place where people leave there car for long periods?

I think you bring up the biggest issue with a membership type program. Personally I’m looking for somewhere to park my car for days/months/years while it sits on jack stands. 100 cars would be a problem. I also have a lathe, milling machine, a welding table which weighs north of 1000lbs. I need room. Lol.

I would only attempt this with your best buds and family. You have to trust who you're rooming with and even still they have to be trained. Everyone needs to have the same mindset and respect for the shop and everything in it. Guy running a grinder next to your car. I had a guy here once wipe his hands on my car cover, gtfo. Friend banged brake pads on my lift arm, I had to say something. Then you have to make sure nobody is going to walk off with tools, parts, or drive off in your truck full of tools and parts. I have 8 cameras here and of course there are still blind spots. Thinking this through, it's best to just have your own space.

I don't even shit in public bathrooms.

A while back there was a kid on VCC who wanted to start up a shop where you could rent space and tools but that never took off (I guess due to the above reasons).
Shame tho, cause it seems like a good idea as more apartments go up and people don't have space to work on their cars (or whatever needs a workshop)

Something like this?

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/van...575040906.html

Not Vancouver, but this could work for your needs:

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/van...580365547.html

Rent a 2 car garage from a single detached home in Vancouver for 500 or whatever the market price is and use it as your workshop.

Wow. That too one is fantastic. Good eye, it never came across my searching.

Googled double net. Tenant pays taxes? Yikes.

I’ve been looking at this for the last several years. Always listed as storage only “no workshop”. Only once recently I saw one listed for $850 which I jumped on, but it was short term as they were tearing it all down.

If I was broke and single I'd stick a shower and kitchen suite in this and live here. Add some extra bedrooms and sublet them out to roommates. But it's 1800sq ft total, the shop space looks to be under 600. Only room for 3 cars inside and no ceiling height for a lift. Not ideal.

My 2 friends pooled money do it for at least 5 years now with 1 move in there at some point. Both garages located in Vancouver. No idea why you have a hard time finding one.

this one seems like a good deal

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/van...584718931.html

I went and looked at that. It’s actually a top contender. Not insulated unfortunately (not great for bare metal machine equipment), and the guy was open to my work. Just trying to see how much it is to run 220v from his house.

That looks like a pain to run the 240'v line to the garage. You'll have to trench from one of the rear corners of his house and into the garage.

If he has enough electrical load, I would fit a sub panel in the garage with the appropriate size wire and then add the required plugs for lighting, receptacles, and shop equipment.

Maybe another option they do rent space outside for bigger projects.

https://vancommunitylab.com/

This. x100.

Especially since it sounds like you have some expensive stuff you probably dont want some asshole to get his dick beaters on.