One question Steven has asked from before completing the purchase of Emerald Hill is … “is it possible to add a third garage bay to the existing two-car garage?’
After much debate and discussion, after Michelle and Mark at Ranserve put a $35,000 estimated price on this “wish-list” item, Jacquela turned to Steven one day and said “I think it will add a lot of value and function to the house and we should do it.”
Permission!
Steven asked Brett to turn ideas into sketches and plans. Brett contacted a structural engineer to figure out how to put this thing together while taking out and tying into the back wall and roof of the existing garage.
Today, Brett reports that Austin Energy surveyed the telephone poles and power lines running parallel with the back property line — and confirmed that the proposed addition will be more than five feet away from the power lines. That’s the “green light” we needed for this months-long, slow-cooking, skunkworks idea turned project.
The first thing to understand is … we don’t need this garage, it’s not absolutely necessary … but it will make the house that much more functional and unique. We don’t see a lot of houses with three garage bays in the neighborhood when we drive Northwest Hills — but this is not a competition. Instead, Jadin will be driving in just about two years. Steven needs a home for his power tools and table saw. We have lived in two houses with three garage bays and it spoils you. There are bicycles. There will be storage space.
Simply, it just makes sense.
The plan is for Ranserve to submit the plans to the City of Austin this week. Then we wait, patiently, hoping for approval and permits.
