ON AGAIN: Work is due to start on the next phase of the $9.5 million conversion of the Farmers Trading Co building into Quest apartments. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
ON AGAIN: Work is due to start on the next phase of the $9.5 million conversion of the Farmers Trading Co building into Quest apartments. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
This time it's really going to happen - construction is due to start on the Quest Apartments on the former Farmers Trading Co building in Whangarei next week.
So confident are the developers that the plan to turn the gutted building into serviced apartments is back on track, they haveeven organised for Whangarei's Mayor Sheryl Mai to open the construction site.
The building on the corner of Cameron and Bank streets is to house a 34-room, four-star Quest Serviced Apartments and retail complex. The design will reflect the traditional features of the original building and will provide high quality accommodation for visitors.
Ms Mai will be doing the honours on Tuesday at 2pm , with Stephen Mansfield, chief executive of Quest Serviced Apartments, the largest serviced apartment group in Australasia, also there.
A month ago, the Northern Advocate was told "next week" to the question of when work would resume. Scaffolding for the $9.5 million project has been standing on the site for so long some city residents wondered if the plan had come to a permanent standstill.
Construction is starting later than expected due to extra time needed to complete plans and design, including building above an existing laneway off Bank St.
Whangarei company Arco Group will do the work on behalf of development company Canvas Investments.
