Car Condos: The Newest Form of Man Caves

A new take on the man cave has been developed by car collector Tom Burgess, who after running out of space for his cars in his Geneva home, created a showroom in a business park he developed. Wanting to share his passion and his clever idea with other car aficionados, Burgess is building a gated community of 160 condominium garages in Naperville, Illinois, called Iron Gate Motor Condos.

The condominium community sits on a 45-acre site, hosting a total of 13 buildings finished with concrete siding, stone wainscoting and steel gabled roofs and an automotive retail center. Iron Gate offers seven different floor plans and the garage units come with a viewing loft, 14-foot-by-18-foot overhead garage doors, radiant heat, plumbing, floor drain and sprinklers and end units even have balconies and decks. Owners pay for their utilities and a monthly assessment that covers the maintenance of the grounds and round-the-clock security.

These units are not merely parking spaces though. Owners are finishing their car-condos with amenities and architectural features deemed for a luxury home. Gourmet kitchens, wet bars with beer taps, bathrooms, entertainment centers with flat screen TVs and surround sound systems, fireplaces, wine-closets, pool tables and even a basketball court have made their way into these garages. Local ordinances have drawn the line at bedrooms however, so owners must go home at some point.

With this level of comfort, the garages have turned into a place of entertainment for owners, who spend time with their friends and families, host a series of special events like auto shows and charity fundraisers and an hold a weekly open-house that they’ve dubbed “chrome and coffee”, in which the public can visit the garages, share information and network.

Prices start at $129,000 for the smallest unit and you should hurry up and reserve yours as the first phase of 59 units is nearly sold out.