[aljetmet]

We plan on building a Gardenia and want to expand all around. In fact with a GCG we couldn't find a suitable site in Feb.... Would a 4 ft side expansion to the garage work well? I rather use the 2 or 4 ft expansion for the lania instead of expanding the front of the gargage. Our expectation is to have two cars and one GC. What do you think? We have some time before we build
Guess where I grew up...

[l2ridehd]

My first home in Tv had a 6 foot garage extension. My current home which is a Gardenia does not. The lanai on this model is more then adaquate in size. We have two tables and 8 chairs plus two lounge chairs. However I curse the garage size every day and at some point may move again for a bigger garage. If I was building I would expand/extend the garage as much as possible. Both in width and depth.

[TrudyM]

It was 35 feet deep and felt tight. I too like the Gardina plan but have a problem with the garage size.
The average midsize car acording to the net is 16 feet long so to park one car behind the other would need at least 32 feet. The net also says Average dimensions of a golf cart are 4' W x 8' L x 6' H according to Golf Cart Catalog.com.
So a car with a golf cart behind it should require about 28 feet. car 16 + cart 8 plus walk around 4. At least that is what I put in my notes on house hunting. The Gardinia floor plan says that it is 18' 8" wide by 19'3" but I don't know if that includes the mechanical alcove at the back. 18"8" is narrow for a two car garage. My son has one and when his BMW and my Accord are both in it is tight opening the door on my Accord as it is a two door. There are two gardinas already constructed on corner lots one in Bonita and one in Pennecamp with golf cart garages. Also the new Holly which has slightly larger bedrooms and 1 more foot depth in the garage became available today as a new model.

[jaspal]

I'm with you. I would rather add to the lanai.

[k2at]

One can never have enuff room in the garage. That wud be my priority.

[elevatorman]

Have you considered a Begonia. It is the same house with a golf cart garage. The GCG is in front of the kitchen so you lose the large front kitchen window. The garage can still be expanded depending on the lot. Another thing to think about is becoming a one car family. When we got here we had 2 cars, one sat and was not used for 3 months, we sold it. The other is used very little the golf carts get us almost everywhere we want to go.

[graciegirl]

Having a larger garage is important to us in our next house. It is your basement here.

[aljetmet]

Originally Posted by elevatorman

Have you considered a Begonia. It is the same house with a golf cart garage. The GCG is in front of the kitchen so you lose the large front kitchen window. The garage can still be expanded depending on the lot. Another thing to think about is becoming a one car family. When we got here we had 2 cars, one sat and was not used for 3 months, we sold it. The other is used very little the golf carts get us almost everywhere we want to go.

Yes, the large front window, my wife vetoed the Begonia for exactly that reason. ( sorry Begonia owners, but everyone has to compromise something and D won't give in). Our plan is not to give up the 2nd car but it's possible.
I would love to hear from Gardenia or any othe owners who stretched their garage just 4 ft to the side. Can you maneuver with 2 cars and a cart all side by side? We don't have a basement in our current house but I do have a garden tractor that just makes it in from of my Camry. Don't think that would work with a cart as the tractor is only 6ft.

[SALYBOW]

They just opened Unit 163 in Buttonwood and thee are wider and longer lots there. We wanted to extend our lanai and Bobby Gulati, our rep, went out and scouted some lots for us. We were happy with all of them. He is terrific BTW. Don't tink they come any better than him.

[SALYBOW]

I was told yesterday that a new section just opened again. That usually means that there is a discount applied to the lot and the home. We cashed in on this and were happy to do so. I was also told that there are some lots in it that can accomidate extensions. If you are interested call Bobby Gulati at the sales center.

[NJblue]

We don't have a Gardenia, but in our Lantana with a golf cart garage but no additional stretching, we have plenty of room in the garage. I would strongly recommend a golf cart garage for the amount of additional storage space that it provides without taking away from your front-to-back dimensions (assuming your lot is wide enough for this).

Based on the Gardenias that we have been to, the additional few feet in depth of the stretched lanai makes all the difference in the world. It converts a too tight space (in my opinion) to a very spacious, comfortable lanai.

So, if the Gardenia's garage is roughly comparable to that of a Lantana, and if you can only stretch one thing front-to-back, I'd opt for the lanai. Remember, you do have a considerable amount of storage room above the garage in the attic.

{EDIT} I just noticed that you apparently don't have room for a golf cart garage (or at least couldn't find such a lot in Feb). If that be the case and if you really want 3 vehicles, perhaps the stretched garage makes sense - although I would think that moving cars/carts around all the time to get access to the other vehicle would get old after awhile. If you have not yet purchased a lot, find one that fits your needs.

[aljetmet]

Unfortunately we have a time to go before we get serious to buy, probably 2 years.
Lot's can happen, but when the time comes we'll be trying to get exactly what we want. I always like to have to have a fall back position just in case.
Thanks all for your valuable input...

[getdul981]

Referring to the storage space above the garage. I know you have to install the ladder/stairs to access easily. Can you reach the attic above the living area through this opening? Or is there a partition between the living area and garage area for fire purposes?

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by getdul981

Referring to the storage space above the garage. I know you have to install the ladder/stairs to access easily. Can you reach the attic above the living area through this opening? Or is there a partition between the living area and garage area for fire purposes?

In our house there is a partition. However, my neighbor, who has a Gardenia, says that there is no partition between the garage attic and the attic above the house. I would have thought that the fire code would require it, but he says that his house doesn't have one. Other than fire issues this is good for him since he can get by with a single attic fan.