Site could be central to reinvigorated city

The Northland Toyota site on the corner of Reyburn and Carruth Sts in Whangarei is for sale or lease.

The owner of the 5087sq m business 2-zoned property, Northland businessman Sid Anderson, is suggesting it could be a good place to put up a low-rise building with shops at street level and views over the Town Basin from apartments above.

Northland Toyota has been given notice to vacate the site. The car dealer is moving to a new premises in Porowini Ave, with the shift expected to be completed by July.

The property is being marketed by Bayleys Whangarei. The main two-storied building on the site has a net lettable floor space of 1595sqm, together with a high profile car display area.

The Reyburn/Carruth intersection straddles the city's commercial centre and the evolving waterfront zone around the Town Basin.

The Whangarei District Council's long-term strategic planning guideline, Whangarei 20/20+, says the site is suitable for street-level retail or commercial units and up to four-storied apartment-style residential units - including the potential for retired living accommodation.

Mr Anderson said the CBD suffered what he called a "population vacuum" after 5pm on weekdays and on weekends, with residents socialising and shopping in the suburbs.

Any re-invigoration of the city centre would require a coordinated expansion of the hospitality and niche retail sectors, supported by an inner-city residential population.

The idea of apartment dwellings seemed foreign to many in Whangarei, but as the population aged and the Town Basin matured, this perception could change, Mr Anderson said.

"Retirees could chose to live close to the heart of the city supported by its social amenities and healthcare provisions."

Bayleys Northland commercial manager Ross Blackmore said the opportunity existed for any new owner of the land to either take a strategic long-term view of the property and develop infrastructure and buildings in line with the council's 20/20+ plan, or push ahead with alternative uses.