Art Deco icon goes on the market

RACHEL PINDER One of Hawke's Bay's largest commercial and industrial properties has been put on the market following British America Tobacco's decision to sell its Napier site.
The Ahuriri property was formerly used to manufacture tobacco products, but with BAT relocating its production operation to Sydney last year, the site, which covers 4.6ha of land and 38,203 sq m of buildings - is now surplus to requirements.
The property consists of 33 separate titles and contains one of Hawke's Bay's most well-known buildings, the heritage-listed National Tobacco Company building, formerly known as the Rothmans building.
Bayleys Real Estate will market the property which BAT has owned for more than 70 years, by international tender, closing April 30. Potential purchasers can tender for one or more of seven individual parcels of land containing a variety of buildings.
Six of the parcels are for sale with vacant possession. A seventh, containing three warehouses used by BAT as its national distribution centre, will be sold with either a lease back to the company or a deferred settlement.
Bayleys' Geoff Graham said extensive road frontages separate the various parcels of land which contain an assortment of buildings that could be utilised as self contained complexes.
He said it is expected to attract interest from developers, investors and owner occupiers.
Buildings include the main factory complex, totalling more than 9000 sq m, a two-level administration building constructed in the early 1970s, and a wide variety of storage and warehouse buildings.
One of the earliest buildings established on the site was The National Tobacco Company building, completed in 1933. It is regarded as one of the most elaborately detailed buildings in Napier and has a Category One Historic Places Classification and an Art Deco Trust supreme award.
It was designed by Louis Hay, a leading architect of the era, in the Chicago School style with the front featuring Art Nouveau and Art Deco touches.
Mr Graham says both the exterior and interior of the building have been kept in immaculate condition by BAT. He says potential future uses for the building, in addition to its previous use as office space, could include boutique tourist accommodation or a restaurant or cafe.
Bayleys Hawke's Bay's Eoin Carty said the BAT site is well positioned for redevelopment given its location. It is next to the Ahuriri waterfront and has extensive road frontage which provides excellent exposure and accessibility, he said.