Coastal village in the making

Salt, 73 Girven Rd, Mount Mounganui

SALT, 73 GIRVEN RD, MT MAUNGANUI

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Architecturally designed homes around a village green three minutes’ walk from Mt Maunganui beach. There are 52 apartments in two three-storey blocks and 12 two or three-bedroom townhouses in four blocks. Properties feature balconies or exclusive backyards. At least one car park included;

A) 10 one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments, 51sq m- 62sq m (plus 8sq m- 33sq m balcony or outdoor area) from $435,000 including parking. B) 14 two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments, 62sq m- 67sq m (plus 8sq m- 45sq m balcony or outdoor area) from $485,000 including parking. C) 26 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments, 73sq m- 97sq m (plus 13sq m- 47sq m balcony or outdoor area) from $550,000 including parking. D) Two three-bedroom two-bathroom apartments 106sq m (plus 33sq m balcony) from $755,000 including parking. E) Five two-bedroom, two-bathroom two-storey townhouses with internal-access garage; 110sq m (plus 8.5sq m balcony with ground floor outdoor area) from $625,000. F) Seven three-bedroom, two-bathroom two-storey townhouses with internal access garage; 153sq m-195sq m (plus 10sq m-16sq m balcony plus ground floor outdoor area) from $760,000.

INSPECT: Display suite on site, open 7 days 11am-3pm.

ON THE WEB: http://www.saltliving.nz/

SCHOOL ZONES: Arataki Primary, Omanu Primary, Mount Intermediate, Mount College.

CONTACT: Colliers Grant White 0800 725 876 or Claire Boggiss 027 505 5250.

BODY CORP: Estimated annual $2596-$4716.

The charms of Mt Maunganui have been a magnet for decades, so you might be forgiven for thinking any sort of affordable living there was the stuff of ancient history.

However, the purchase of a former camping ground 260 metres from the beach has enabled a new residential development many years after glossy apartment blocks started popping up along Marine Parade.

Business partners Paul Spillane and Peter Gillespie of SNG Investments are behind Salt, currently being sold off the plans. The community of architecturally designed apartments and townhouses are arranged around a village green.

Their architect Graham Price of First Principles says of the land which used to be Golden Grove Holiday Park: "It's very rare to find a site of this size that close to the beach and the Mount where you can build a community in one development.

"Older communities have variety because they've been formed over time. We've designed the different blocks of townhouses with differing form and materials to give them their own identities and avoid monotony."

Salt's 64 residences will be comprised of 52 one to three-bedroom apartments arranged in two blocks plus 12 two to three-bedroom townhouses spread across another four blocks.

Graham says: "We've pushed the two three-storey apartment buildings apart on the site to form a wide village green between them, opening them up for light and outlook.

"The village green is a large landscaped area with a meandering boardwalk and a contemporary waterfall with seating. All the ground floor apartments will open directly on to it so the landscaped green space almost feels like it's part of their garden."

Image 1 of 5: Checking out a development close to the beach

Graham says the choice of load-bearing concrete construction with some cladding applied to it to provide accents was driven by the developers' unwavering emphasis on high quality. Design integrates some exposed concrete with a timber-grain finish achieved through its formwork and cantilevered balconies with frameless glass fronts and concrete sides for privacy.

The two-level townhouses have exclusive backyards plus balconies while apartments have balconies unless they are at ground floor with exclusive courtyards.

Developer Paul says: "Peter and I set high standards for this development right from the start.

"We both live at the Mount and wanted to create something we could genuinely feel proud of. We've been through thousands of adjustments to these plans to get things just right."

"And despite our focus on quality these homes are priced at so much less than what you'd be paying if they were in Auckland."

He and Peter developed 850 Cameron Rd, opposite Tauranga Hospital; three buildings offering a medical centre, childcare centre and 22-unit motel.

Most two-bedroom layouts include master his and hers dressing rooms. Kitchens have engineered stone bench tops, Grohe tapware, Blum joinery and Fisher & Paykel appliances. Graham's wife, interior designer Kate, had input into decor and colour schemes chosen to evoke a relaxed but sophisticated coastal theme.

Thirteen Salt units sold in their first weekend of marketing. Paul says demographically diverse buyers include a good portion moving from Auckland plus owners of larger Mt Maunganui homes wanting to downsize.

Townhouses have internal-access garages which are predominantly double. Apartment pricing includes a minimum of one open-air car park with some getting more than one park. SNG Investments' development of the site will include a cafe plus a childcare centre on a separate unit title, anticipated to cater for around 80 children.

The Salt development has an estimated completion date of early 2018.