East Tamaki site on doorstep of future park

The 1.1ha block of light industrial land for sale at 82 Smales Rd is indicated by a yellow border. Photo / Supplied

A 1.1ha block of light industrial land, that's on the edge of a huge tract of green space earmarked for a proposed recreational park in East Tamaki, is for sale.

Lot 2, 82 Smales Rd, Auckland, is being marketed by Nigel Ingham of Ray White Commercial and Mike Edward of Commercial Realty. It is for sale by deadline private treaty closing at 4pm on March 14, unless sold earlier.

The freehold site runs along the southeastern boundary of the proposed 54ha Styak-Lushington Park, which is planned for the former Greenmount Landfill site bordered by Harris and Smales Rds. The landfill site has undergone extensive land remediation and clean-fill process since 2006.

The sale of Lot 2 presents a rare opportunity for developers or owner-occupiers to acquire land in sought-after East Tamaki, with the added benefit of a large undeveloped green space on the doorstep, says Ingham.

"Imagine having bought a hectare of commercial land adjoining Cornwall Park or the Auckland Domain at the time those Auckland parks were in the planning stages. This isan opportunity to own a large site bordering a significant green space that's proposed to become a major public asset for the entire city."

The rectangular site has about 286m of road frontage on the desirable left-hand side of the road for homebound traffic. Its accommodative Business Light Industry zoning permits a wide range of business types, including some retail and service uses, Edward says.

"This site's location next to a huge green space, its zoning and shape make it a rarely available opportunity for businesses. It would be suitable for a wide range of users that could benefit from a highly visible long road frontage, as well as a location adjoining residential and commercial areas.

"These could include a garden centre, storage and lock-up facilities or cafe."

Permitted uses in the zone include activities like drive-through restaurants, motor vehicle/marine sales, service stations, show homes and trade suppliers.

The site's size means it could also appeal to developers looking to acquire land and construct commercial space to meet the high demand from occupiers for property in East Tamaki, says Edward.

The popularity of East Tamaki as a convenient business location, with excellent access to State Highway 1, is also expected to contribute to demand for the land right next to a large green space, which will offer a huge recreational amenity for people workingthere, Ingham says.

The proposed Styak-Lushington Park is on the site of a 60m-high volcanic cone, which was quarried from the 1870s. The land was gifted to the city of Auckland in 1932 by Sarah Jane Lushington, to be used as a public park. The site was instead used as a landfill until 2005. Following significant clean-fill and land remediation, the park site now has a 70m-high flat-topped hill resembling its origins as a volcanic cone, with panoramic views over the city and to Rangitoto from the highest point.