One thing that I feel like is missing from your plans is an office attached to the retail space - not that you need a workspace for yourself entirely down there, you've already got an office/studio upstairs for that. What I really mean is someplace to sit down with a walk-in who wants to talk about getting something designed and made. I'm sure the gallery isn't going to hold a ton of furniture, it seems like you intend to just have a few example pieces on display. A small office where you can sit down and show off some design ideas and let people brainstorm with you on what they want would be all you really need.
That sort of space could be added anywhere downstairs. In fact, having it deeper in allows for a tour of the place for potential customers. Then a simple table and couple chairs allows a place to sit and discuss requests/commissions. Excellent idea by the way!!
@Grevlain True, it is an excellent idea. But, as you said deeper into the space on the 1st floor. Coming through the gallery, towards the back, gives clients/ potential customers a walking tour. Then a couple of chairs around a workbench/ table saw with a tab/laptop is how a great number of shops I've seen lately do business. Much more open concept thing going lately than compared to a small office.
Agreed. I've mentioned this to Mike last week in the cost breakdown video, suggesting to add a "reception" area out front (which should also fit well with the seperate commercial entrance). Mike mentioned that it's a good idea, only time will tell if this will become reality.
Something I would add is that, by using other contractors (as you wisely foresaw), the grant money ends up benefiting other local businesses and even the city/state itself through the tax of those transactions. The idea is for money to be used, float around and benefit everyone through their hard work. I think it is a great program and hope other people get to see it and apply to improve their communities. Keep up the good content!
Don’t expect people to think hard about anything. They see that someone gets a grant and they immediately think that the guy is going to buy luxury car and such 🙄. You made it very clear and did a good job of explaining where the money is going to go (not in your pocket).
Corporate welfare is what you are describing. Tax money being handed out to local businesses. In Chicago, only union contractors will be allowed to work on this so small private contractors do not benefit.
This highlights the value of your legal background. There are so many opportunities out there, but many people are stymied by the bureaucracy while the money often goes unallocated. Maybe you could make a video to help other business owners in your area understand the grant process. Or not…as a fellow corporate attorney/garage maker, I’m proud of you for getting out of law and doing something that makes you happy, so I could see why you wouldn’t want to get dragged back into legal stuff.
I would recommend moving the art gallery wall 6in so those structural beams are on the workshop side. It will give a lot more flexibility to art placement.
It does look small but think people opinions are along the line of "it looks smaller than a normal shop" but it's not a normal shop so belive the size I'd perfectly fine. It's not going to be a space to have 100 things on the walls
Bravo, sir. P.S. Strongly suggest that you put insulation in the ceiling between your gallery/workshop/garage and the floor of your living space. It will not only help with temperature control but also soften/deaden sound travel.
@@modustrial Yes, and they make a channel that decouples the sheetrock from the roof and doesn't transfer the vibrations to the floor above, thereby reducing sound. I can't remember what it's called but it is very common in apartments and commercial buildings.
I joined this channel at the start of the renovation, for the renovation. So I am extremely happy that there is gonna be a new renovating project :D Looking forward to it!
That was the smoothest sponsorship for a video I've ever seen. Using the sponsor to hire someone to create the walk through used in the video was brilliant. Maybe I'm just a RU-vid marketing nerd?
@Modustrial Maker, @4:21 , I would just rip off the roof in the back half of the workshop and put up a sub-ceiling instead. So it is easier to access for future electrical or plumbing or similar for the upstairs area. Don't throw up plaster. By having a sub-ceiling, you also sound dampen a lot better.
It amazes me that you had to defend the concepts of grants. I think it's great that your city offers such support. Shame it's only 90%, that must be a showstopper for many people.
10:22 If I have ever seen a candidate for a solar panel install, it is this outlet right here… especially with the amount of money it could save you. Get a solar panel kit, and run that outlet exclusively on solar power.
You can do some really cool acid stained concrete floors. I have done it several times and they look really good, and there are tons of different colors.
Acid concrete floors look really cool and hide any imperfections or future wear & tear. My uncle did this to his workshop over his old beat up concrete and it totally changed the space.
@@GlueGunsRoses Oh my goodness! Found one of my favorite diyers deep in the comments of another of my favorite channels! (Who I guess is also a diyer, if perhaps on a slightly different scale.) Hi Megan!
Let’s goo! More renovations and future videos to come. I love what you have done with this property and the mark it will make on your community will not go unnoticed. Right on!
Congrats on the grant!! Hopefully all goes well, and the City works well with all your plans. Anybody that knows Chicago and how it works, completely understands what you're talking about. Having your law background will hopefully make navigating the process a little simpler. Best of luck in getting this whole thing off the ground!! Looking forward to continuing to follow along with the journey.
I love seeing people design interiors. I've been doing so for sometime now. Being able to visualise a plan and seeing your client cheer up upon seeing it just a great feeling overall. Can I just say that that new front facade looks stunning Mike? The building has basically come around full circle again: from full height windows to smalller windows and back! I totally dig it. Slight adjustment I'd make here though is adding two lounge chairs and a coffee table in the art gallery. Allow your customers to enjoy a drink whilist discussing work with you in a *very* inspiring gallery!
I might be biased since I live here, but I vote Kentucky for an Airbnb. The area around Red River Gorge is beautiful and pretty affordable...and a little less than two hours away from me
I can't believe you are all done and that it's been 4 years already!! I found your videos after everything was shut down and I worked in healthcare and it helped me to have videos like yours to watch!
No it hasn’t. Not a slight to him but if you had a problem with Chicago and seeing him live and work there turned it around for you, your problem wasn’t with Chicago.
I’ve been watching from the beginning and I’m so impressed on what you have accomplished! Having the work space tidied up and organized will help you be even more productive! Can’t wait to see it completed!
Everything you have shared is incredibly impressive. I am delighted that the city had the insight to assist a committed and successful entrepenuer who has already contributed more than a million dollars of value to an evolving neighborhood. I'll keep an eye on your progress and look forward to visiting your new gallery when it opens and grabbing lunch at nearby Smoque. Thanks again.
That's awesome, congratulations. I imagine that with your skill set, you are becoming an expert at rejuvenating properties and neighborhood development in a way that makes more sense with regard to how people want to live today. This is so exciting.
You briefly mentioned the Joshua Tree area as a potential future site. I think that would be a real winner - it's just spitting distance to an amazing national park and the wonderful modern mid-century vibe of Palm Springs. Amazing entertainment year round.
Been watching this abandoned series since about your second video, maybe first, cant quite remember it's a crazy time warp that it's been that long! I've loved every bit. As an artist & whimsy tinker-maker I loved watching all your build and project content. Especially the collabs with other artists. Every artist at some point hopes they too will get opportunities like the ones you've been fostering. I'm extremely excited to see your further embracing that with a front art gallery!!!!!!!!! 🎉 Depending on what you do maybe my art will be in there one day. So ready to go on another of your creative long hall journeys. Go where the wind takes you, keep tinkering and stay happy friend!!!
Been here since the beginning of this reno, and honestly you've got to be one of my favorite people on this site. Your content is so.. based in reality? If that makes any sense? Like you're actually out here doing stuff, and not only are you building cool art but you're also building up your community too with your business, and I think that's so awesome yk? I can't wait to see how this new project goes
excited about both short and long term projects! I can already picture you offering some workshops to people (as a mentor) who can then later on use the gallery to present what they have made doing the worksop. Keep it uuup!
Idea to comply with the front room electrical: Have none. put a few windows in the wall with difuse and spot lights shining through, duct conditioned air through a hole, wire lights above and outside from the second floor....
The city has been calling that a developing area for over 30 years. Glad they are finally doing something to actually help it develop. The design looks awesome, good luck!
Grant is a brilliant idea and will add a new dimension to your channel. It will be great to finish the workspace on the ground floor and continue creating one off projects. Looking forward to your next set of videos. Good luck.
So excited for you. For the floors could you do a concrete floor with a translucent expoxy “river” with cool things in it? I couldn’t imagine anything more on brand for you!
Firstly I'll say this: thanks for the covid period content. Secondly, congrats on the final build up and it has been a great thing to follow up and feels like I'm a part about. Keep up the good work my man and continue being creative!
Put the glass garage door between the gallery and your workshop. Larger opening to move items and allows your customers to see your shop. Down side is you have to keep your shop neat. Alternatively, your pocket door could be glass.
Started watching the abandoned building series back in covid and seeing the plans for the workshop and gallery makes this project feel that much closer to being done. It's been a long road and I'm sure no one is as excited as you are to see it finished, but we're all here enjoying your content and all that you're doing. I've learned quite a bit from watching you and I thank you for that
Have you considered doing your Airbnb in New England?? It's definitely a great place for a rental property, especially in parts of Maine and New Hampshire due to the close proximity to a variety of nature and activities! You can have a location that's an hour of less from the coastline beaches, the lakes region, the City of Boston, and the mountains that are great year-round for hiking, site seeing (especially during the famous fall foliage), and winter activities such as skiing/boarding, snow shoeing, tubing/sledding, snowmobiling, ect.. . Every season is beautiful and enjoyable with plenty of tourist attractions for all ages, including a lot of great shopping which has everything from gift shops and preious antique shops, to luxury brand outlet shopping. You'd have absolutely no problem renting it out all year round and the local people are super friendly, especially in the smaller rural towns. And if you buy in New Hampshire, there's no sales tax! Another added bonus is getting premium natural building materials such as wood, stone, ect.. cheaper because it's sourced locally, so you can find some killer deals at some of the local shops.
Be careful around that pocket door between the gallery and workshop when hanging art as it is a very common thing for people to put a screw through the pocket when hanging stuff on walls which stops the door from moving. excited to see these plans come to fruition!!
exciting, I like that you are having a store front and that you are trying to improve the area where you live. The city where i live is doing similar, lots of small business is struggling as people don't really go to do cbd's anymore opting for malls and online shopping. so helping people improve there store fronts, increasing desirability is helping the whole community and local economy.
I live in the Philippines . And have mini splits in several rooms. The area is dusty( dirt road ) and the windows do not keep the dust out. Minisplits in a dusty environment are HIGH MAINTAINANCE .In our bedroom .Where we run the ac approx 20 hrs a day. We have to clean the filter at least once a week. And the every three months have the unit serviced by the Air Con people. I also have a minisplit in my hobby shop ( I build plastic models). And it needs extra cleaning all the time as well .
Hi, so excited for the videos ahead - all not just the Renos ;-) Looking forward to your idea of an Airbnb, why not one day stay there :-) Love what you did here, and also how you show us the struggle throughout, it's very instructing, and it's best to see or hear about struggle, to learn from them and not jump into the same struggle ourselves. Good luck with the paperwork. I would love to visit Chicago again, it was so nice there about 20 years ago ! Lol
If that is a commercial building and you are redoing the electrical you should consider installing 3-phase power as well. It is so much better to run motors on that and they will run more efficient with more power.
Just a tidbit bit, I would recommend looking into laticrete. Epoxy floors can break down with time due to existing concrete condition, mostly trapped moisture content. Just passing this along. At my job we spec laticrete for the commercial kitchen and polished concrete for the public areas. This is going to be awesome when complete.
Hi Mike, I’m glad you’ve got your home project completed. It’s been very interesting to follow you on your renovation. I’m wondering if any of your neighbours who have had to put up with the noise and disruption need any work doing by you? It could be a good mini series giving back to the community.
for that shared space that you don't want to do a shared meter perhaps you could partner with one of those solar generator company's and just have that little foyer off grid... those solar box thinggos are handy for other applications and i think with just a simple LED light it could probably run for months before needing a recharge.
Love the design for the commercial space, one thing I would like to see is instead of a black metal bench, if you make your own bend out of cement, wood, epoxy, etc and made it a art piece in itself I thing would really attract people and compliment the gallery
I Consider Myself a Good 3D Artist and Logo Designer. It's Great to see those mockup renderings of the renovations. I can't wait to see the Final Results.
Just curious . As mentioned the location you're in isn't what one would describe as a foot traffic area. Considering this is also your residential address , what kind of security do you have ? I mean the planned commercial front is going to be glass right ? Aren't you concerned about theft and or intentional damage ?
