Where to keep project/track car in seattle?

[Earendil]

I'm seriously contemplating a move to Seattle. However, I'm struggling with what to do with the "other love of my life", a former DD E30 that is slowly being transformed into track rat.

The problem I foresee is finding a location that:
1. Allows me to store a none running car (though right now she is very functional)
2. Allows me to do mechanical work on a car
3. Isn't a gazillion hours away from work

I'm sort of making the assumption that I will be working closer to downtown than not. So along with that, I'm assuming that renting a small dumpy house with a garage will put my commute at an hour+. Maybe I'll get lucky, but that is what I'm preparing for atm.

So now I'm looking at alternative means, and if anyone is aware of alternatives, it's you guys :)

I'm thinking there might exist an option to store my car at a location other than where I live. It makes more since for me to drive 2 hours every weekend to see my car, than to drive 1 hour 5 days a week to work.

I'm looking for information on such locations, or other ideas entirely. Perhaps there is a community warehouse/garage/parking lot where car tinkers can pay a fee to use some space? Are there members here that have more space than they know what to do with, and wouldn't mind a fellow E30 guy coming by every couple weekends with beer? Or maybe there is a combination of the two? :)

I'm curious how those closer to the city are dealing with this. Perhaps you all have long commutes, or have jobs further away from downtown. I may end up being forced into this route, but I'm exploring my options now so I'm not in a pinch later when I actually do move.

I currently live in the country, where everyone does engine swaps on the side of the road

[ck_taft325is]

Depends on how much you make, honestly. There's some good neighborhoods not drastically far from down town (~15-20 minutes). But price might or might not be an issue.

[Earendil]

Depends on how much you make, honestly. There's some good neighborhoods not drastically far from down town (~15-20 minutes). But price might or might not be an issue.

I'm an unmarried male in the later half of his twenties. I make enough to have options, but not get what I want :-)

Fixing my dilemma by finding the right location and landlord is a viable route, and the one I will look at first. However that doesn't fall into the "alternative" solutions that I came here looking for. I was thinking I'd do that leg work myself. Of course I'm open to suggestions.

I don't suppose anyone here will a proper setup will be looking for a room mate in 6-9 months? I bring my own tools :)

[spdracrm3]

another option

http://www.garagetownfederalway.com/

if money is no object, kinda pricey but you own it.

[dreeves]

I'm in the same boat -- I live in Capitol Hill in Seattle, and rent some space for my M3 + trailer from a friendly Pro 3 racer out in Woodinville, half an hour away. Not the most convenient, but it's a nice situation and is financially reasonable. You might head over to the ICSCC forums and post a message to see if anyone has any space they can spare.

[Earendil]

http://www.garagetownfederalway.com/

if money is no object, kinda pricey but you own it.

Starting at $100,000?
With that kind of money I could live in a nice apartment and pay off the managers to let me take up 3 garage spots and do the work there :P

I'm in the same boat -- I live in Capitol Hill in Seattle, and rent some space for my M3 + trailer from a friendly Pro 3 racer out in Woodinville, half an hour away. Not the most convenient, but it's a nice situation and is financially reasonable. You might head over to the ICSCC forums and post a message to see if anyone has any space they can spare.

That is sort of how I see the "Alternative" working out. Finding a person with a sweet deal that could use an increase in their monthly car spending limit. I'll check out the ICSCC forums for such an alternative when I get closer to the move. Thanks for the tip!

[Rennsport]

I don't know about in Seattle, but in Issaquah (20-25 minutes away) there is storage units that allow you do do pretty much anything in them. One of my friends has a unit there that he stores 2 cars in, complete with a lift and air compressor.

[Earendil]

I don't know about in Seattle, but in Issaquah (20-25 minutes away) there is storage units that allow you do do pretty much anything in them. One of my friends has a unit there that he stores 2 cars in, complete with a lift and air compressor.

Really? I've never rented a storage unit personally, but I've always assumed that the second line on the agreement under "do not live in storage unit" would be "Do not do construction and car repair". Perhaps "Do not run business out of" would be in there someplace.

While not as convenient as my own garage for tinkering, even a storage unit would be better than my current setup, a paved driveway ;-)

[Rennsport]

I know for a fact that there are a few business being run from that facility. I can get the name of the place if you're interested.