Anyone want to move to southern california?

[OHebel Wring]

Attention all tinkerers, tappers, philosophers, imbibers,

I am moving to Southern California (Huntington Beach) at the beginning of June from Munich (due to work).  Right now I am searching for a warehouse-styled living arrangement (preferably one where the owner might look the other way at the fact that I (and roommates) live there).  Due to the expense of a place such as this, I am looking for partners in this endeavor.  The precise goal would be to make this a lab, a studio, and a comfortable place to smoke pipes and philosophize.
--think Holme's sitting room.

Some of the projects I have in the works involve taking apart and reconstructing a grand piano, building an old-styled "one-man-band", etc. (so you can see how this would be impossible in a traditional apartment)  So I need a spot, and I am sure that there are others out there with the same need.

Not so much a place to live, as a project.  Not sure if the place that I land will even have hot water initially and you can imagine that it will not have a kitchen (until we install it).  So I am looking for energetic, skilled, hardworking adventurers to come together for about a year and make this thing ours...

Is there any interest in this?  Am I completely off my rocker here?

-Patrick

[fmra]

Digressing somewhat, I live in Southern California.  I can't help much with a warehouse, but if you're interested I could show you around once you get here.  Which reminds me, who else is out here?

[OHebel Wring]

right on, man!

the only person that i used to know out there isn't there anymore, so I would be down for all kinds of adventures.

[Anachronist]

I live in San Diego. A bit of a jaunt away, but should you ever find yourself in the neighborhood, please stop by and say hello. I work in a pipe shop, if that's any incitement.

Oh and by the way, first post. Hello everyone!

-Alexander

[fmra]

Glad to see you've made it, Anachronist

[OHebel Wring]

well I move in June and am looking in Long Beach for a warehouse.


And I do appreciate a good pipe....  so I am sure we will bump into one another!

[S.Sprocket]

I work in Santa Ana which isn't that far away, I'm sure we'll meet up.  What you are looking for is VERY hard to find BTB.  From what I've seen the closest thing is some of the lofts near little tokyo in down town LA.

[cuttingteeth]

I live in southern california.  I work in hollywood (hollywood/highland area)

[Nicholas Ward]

Well sir, I wish you luck, but might I suggest expanding your search to include Orange County as well? There are a multitude of available opportunities to be had in the more industrial areas of the cities.

[S.Sprocket]

Well sir, I wish you luck, but might I suggest expanding your search to include Orange County as well? There are a multitude of available opportunities to be had in the more industrial areas of the cities.

oh? I'd love for you to share these as I'm looking for a place in orange county currently.

[OHebel Wring]

Well, i will be working in Huntington Beach.


And have been looking around in Long Beach.  But I think the thing to do is to drive through the shipping areas and find a spot with a "for rent" sign in the window.


That would pretty much be the place where they are most likely to not worry about the usage of their building...

[S.Sprocket]

one problem in our plan, it must be zoned for residential in most cities in la county, if not the property owner can face fines if someone knows you're living on industrial zoned land.

[OHebel Wring]

see... that's where you missed the "look the other way" part.

If it were an "Art studio" than you shouldn't have a problem.  Artists are crazy and work at odd hours.

[Nicholas Ward]

Off the top of my head, I'd suggest a bit of perusal through http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/search/hhh?query=warehouse

Of course, as always, a good healthy drive through the more industrial areas does do wonders.


As for being zoned for residential...well, that's always a bit of a tough nail in the LA/OC area as every space zoned for residential purposes seems to be filled with houses due to the ever increasing demand for housing.

A few people that I've known have been able to rent spaces intended for office use throughout the years without a problem, one person informed her landlord in a roundabout fashion and all he required was a slightly larger payment each month. Another person started a small business and made sure that all of his office furniture could double as bedroom furniture...he of course did not inform his landlord.

It'd usually be best to not inform the landlord, but be wary that some places require a yearly fire inspection by the proper authorities...

[OHebel Wring]

I have been scouting the craigslist rather frequently (as I live 10,000 miles away right now), but haven't come up with something that seems suitable for my needs.

Think Dorian Grey's pad in LxG

Big open warehouse, back third walled off (have to build this) into a workshop, the front 2/3s victorian sitting room with bookshelves, etc.

I had a library in my last house and it was the best room in the house (the one my roommate and I always seemed to find ourselves smoking pipes discussing philosophy (both of us were working on our undergrad thesis' at the time).

But as long as the workshop was a functional workshop, the front is nothing more than a showroom of the works.

[S.Sprocket]

I must say the entire arrangement sounds very peroid in itself.

I wonder if this can be done in todays time?

[OHebel Wring]

If I learned anything in Uni it was that anyone can be bought.


you just have to find the price.  Problem in that area is the price.  I am trying to convince an artist/designer friend of mine to move out there with me (If you know anyone who works car design in soCal, let me know)  But think 3 payers in a space like that would be the best.


ah, and for an idea of what I was going for:



notice the period lighting and the warehouse style windows in the back.  In my mind, behind the bookcase/wall would be the workshop.

The only thing is finding people with the skills (and motivation) to put it together.

[S.Sprocket]

hell I'd settle for living on the street if I had that Beverage Trolley
-_Q

[OHebel Wring]

I have really examined this photo (as I have been planning this since I moved out to Germany).

The thing is, the room itself is VERY simple.  The only things that make it "Steampunk" is the furniture and the lights.

And lights can usually be aquired from goodwill, salvation army, or if there is a habitat for humanity store (like i had in michigan)

Bookshelves are easy if you have books

Rugs are 89 - 130 bucks for an oriental-style out at lowes or home depot

That just leaves the furnishings.  (oh, and the iron stairs, etc. - - but that can always come later)

[Nicholas Ward]

Pray tell, what do you think the optimum square footage would be?

[OHebel Wring]

that is a good question.

my house in Michigan was 2200 sq feet with basement.

and that was just comfortable for 2 essentrics...  depends on what projects.