Youngstown Couple Builds ‘Garage Mahal’ on Abandoned Lot With Help From Land Bank

Lifelong West Side residents Chuck and Mary Sheffield know the many problems that are created by vacant, abandoned, blighted houses. They have loved their home for 37 years, but their happiness began to wane after the next-door property became empty.

“We had been cutting the grass for years and watched the house decay over time,” Chuck Sheffield said. It eventually was damaged in a fire – a frequent occurrence at vacant properties – and reduced to a vacant lot.

With help from Mahoning County Land Bank, the Sheffields acquired that lot and used it to build the “Garage Mahal,” as Mary Sheffield calls it.

As business people and car enthusiasts, the Sheffields needed more than a standard two-car garage. They built a 2,000 square foot building with 12-foot high ceilings next to their home on North Bon Air Avenue. It was so prominent during its construction that people stopped to ask when the “hall” would open, the couple said.

Before they could build it, they needed additional land. The lot they acquired from the County Land Bank was 40 feet wide and 145 feet deep – the same as their land. Both lots were replatted – that is, combined into a single piece of property. A replat requires the services of a surveyor, who prepares a new description of the property’s legal boundaries to enter into public records at the Mahoning County Courthouse.

Fees are associated with surveys and replats. Without taking those steps, a new garage would have been smaller and built behind their house, Chuck said.

The Sheffields also requested and received a zoning variance, because the size of their ideal garage exceeded Youngstown city zoning limits for new garage construction.

Construction went fairly smoothly, the Sheffields said. The interior was dry walled and insulated. The couple upgraded electrical service to their home to extended electricity to the garage. French drains were installed behind the garage to direct water away from their neighbor’s property when it rains.

Because of the replat, they also were able to replace and widen their driveway, which runs in a straight line from the street to the new garage, Chuck said.

Inside the garage, folding shelves on the right wall hold supplies but can double as counter space during picnics and parties, Mary noted. Ample room exists for a work bench and cabinets.
The Sheffields, who are members of local car clubs, may invest in a lift to stack cars inside of the garage.

Chuck owns a basement waterproofing business. The couple discussed moving their home and business out of the city if they couldn’t build the new garage. Moving wasn’t their hearts’ desire. This neighborhood is where Mary has lived for her entire life, and the place where they raised their family. “We are really comfortable here,” Chuck said.