Project seeks to build luxury garages in New Albany starting at $160K
PARKING IN STYLE
By Sarah Sole
Sep 04, 2020
Michigan resident Brad Oleshansky wants to open the Motor Enclave on 20 acres in New Albany, offering private garages similar to his M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Mich., shown here. [COURTESY OF BRAD OLESHANSKY]
A proposal to build high-end private garages for storing and displaying vehicles in New Albany is one step closer to a green light.
New Albany City Council members this week approved a rezoning request for the project, which would be built on 20 acres north of state Route 161, south of Smith’s Mill Road and west of Kitzmiller Road.
The rezoning is another step in the approval process for the Motor Enclave project that Michigan resident Brad Oleshansky wants to bring to New Albany. The Motor Enclave would include private units for owners to customize to entertain family, friends and clients.
Oleshansky said the Motor Enclave would have about 165 garages, which would range in purchase price from $160,000 to $550,000. He said he is excited to receive the support of the city council and looks forward to bringing his experiential automotive community to New Albany.
“We will begin Founding Owner presales on Oct. 1 and hope to break ground early next year and deliver our phase 1 private garages in the fall of 2021,” he said.
Ten buildings are planned for the site, although construction would be market-driven and would occur in phases, said the project’s attorney, Aaron Underhill. The initial construction would include two to three buildings, he said.
The buildings would vary in size, from 6,700 square feet to 28,000 square feet, Underhill said. The units inside the buildings would range from 600 to 2,400 square feet, he said.
An 11th building would be a community space accessible to unit owners and their guests, Underhill said. That building, about 15,000 square feet, would be part of the initial construction, and could include cars and car accessories for sale, he said.
Oleshansky built a similar project in Pontiac, Michigan, called the M1 Concourse, which serves as an events venue as well as offering garages. He said it is believed to be the largest private garage community in the world. He said he has sold more than 220 garages there.
The next step for the Motor Enclave would be to file a final development plan that would need approval from the New Albany Planning Commission, according to Underhill. The planning commission on Aug. 3 voted 4-0 recommending approval of the rezoning proposal.
Underhill said the project team is pleased to have received unanimous approval for the project from all three public reviewing bodies: the Rocky Fork-Blacklick Accord Implementation Panel, the planning commission and the city council.
“This is a unique project on a unique site in a one-of-a-kind community,” he said.
“The developer is committed to constructing buildings that are consistent with the historic rural character of the city and looks forward to beginning presales of units very soon.” ssole@thisweeknews.com
