Two Whangarei District Council-owned strategic "green field" sites are on the market, opening the possibility of new development.
The council has put a prime inner-city site on the market with a view to attracting development which will help integrate the CBD and the Town Basin; along with a site in key arterial route Porowini Ave on the fringe of the industrial area. The 1022sq m CBD site is at 41-47 James St and is currently used as a 36-space uncovered carpark.
The site is held in four titles and has a substantial frontage to James St as well as further access from a rear service lane.
Surrounding buildings include the Westpac, Spire Accountants and Gilmore Brown buildings.
Marketers David Beattie and Peter Peeters, of Colliers International, are seeking expressions of interest by 4pm on October 26.
Mr Beattie says the property is the only freehold CBD development site over the past few years to be marketed for public sale.
Colliers is also marketing the other property, a 1.53ha site in Porowini Ave, which is under contract to a developer for a proposed 8000sq m retail centre.
Traffic volumes along the route have increased dramatically with the completion of the Porowini Ave extension last year and the opening of the Mitre 10 megastore. Mr Beattie says the proposed retail development on the council's Porowini Ave site has already attracted substantial tenant interest.