GREY Lynn, with its tree-lined avenues and turn-of-the-century homes, is the setting for a new community called Summerfield Villas (pictured left).
Set on a hilltop, facing northeast, Summerfield offers suburban living combined with city life just down the road, says Jeremy Dyson, marketing manager for the project.
Instead of having "typical" limited
outdoor living, architects Swan Railey Clapham & Associates have designed each villa to include its own private outdoor spaces - usually both balconies and gardens.
The development offers a surprising range of lifestyle options, says Mr Dyson. Sizes range from smaller units (about 85 sq m) for the busy young professional, right through to three or four-bedroom (180 sq m) villas. Each home has two-car garaging.
There is a communal swimming pool (and lap pool) and gymnasium set among landscaped gardens for residents' use.
David Gaze, one of the partners in the development, says the objective has been to create a real community in harmony with the surrounding area - somewhere people will be proud to call home.
"So far we have been very successful, with the vast majority of villas being purchased by owner-occupiers.
"We have gone to great lengths to solve some of the problems usually associated with medium-density housing, particularly noise and privacy issues," he says. "There has been considerable attention to the small details, like where you wash your car."
Rather than being just a caretaker, the manager's role is to try to make sure that each owner fully enjoys the benefits of buying at Summerfield.
"We have also paid particular attention to security," says Mr Gaze.
"Part of the manager's role is to act as a security man and keep an eye on the owners' properties while they are absent. This, combined with the nature of the site and electronic remote-control entry, makes Summerfield much more secure than the traditional three-bedroom home."
Mr Dyson says that while a substantial number of the homes are under contract, a wide range of two and three-bedroom homes are still available for $285,000 to $390,000.
"The great thing we have to offer is flexibility - each person has different needs. Anyone interested in terraces should be talking to us," he says.
Stage one is now being settled and buyers have the choice of buying "ready to move in," or contracting to buy at a later date.
"There really is something for everyone here - from young professionals, to retired folk, to young families."
Commercial units of up to 180 sq m are available. The sales office is open daily, from 11 am until 3 pm, at 386 Richmond Rd.
