"It is a superbly located, high profile but under-utilised site which would be ideal for future residential or mixed use development. There would be potential to put extra floors on top of the building and add further buildings on the car parking area. In the meantime, the attractive existing building has an A grade seismic assessment, while its associated car parking generates substantial cashflow, with risk spread across 13 tenants."
One of the trophy listings in Bayleys' second Total Property portfolio for 2019, the property is for sale by tender, closing 4pm on April 2, unless sold earlier.
The 1980s vintage building has a mix of ground floor retail/showroom and commercial accommodation; first floor offices plus basement space. It comprises two annexes connected by a central core and main entranceway with a large tiled foyer and a lift. Two of the ground floor tenancies are also accessed from this area.
There are four ground floor tenants, the largest being a 450sq m Jetts 24-hour fitness centre.
"Full advantage is taken of the excellent exposure to New North Rd, with extensive glazing extending the length of the main road frontage," says Bullick.
"These tenancies provide attractive high-stud spaces and are mostly open-plan. The four office tenancies located on the level above are also well-lit and high-stud, comprising a mix of open plan and office areas with elevated views."
The basement level has a mix of workroom, storage and commercial accommodationspace.
The largest 280sq m tenancy, occupied by EQ Struc Ltd, has a glazed entry fronting Ruru St with polished concrete floors and double-stud-height, with exposed services. Parking at the rear comprises 40 enclosed parks with roller door access from Ruru St, plus a further 30 open air parks on top of this structure.
Leases have expiries ranging from later this year through to 2023, with various rights of renewal. Six of them have fixed yearly rent increases of 1.75 to 3.0 per cent.
"This is a very well presented commercial property which will appeal to both investors and future developers," says Bullick.
Haydock says the property is located in a popular and thriving city fringe location which is particularly sought after because of its convenient access to the CBD.
"This access will be further enhanced with the opening of the nearby City Rail Link (CRL) station. It will be part an enlarged and redeveloped Mount Eden Station which will service both the existing Western line and new CRL Mount Eden to Karangahape Rd line.
"It will take only three minutes to get from Mt Eden station to Karangahape Station and three minutes from there to Aotea Station and another three minutes to Britomart.
"The station will look completely different from the present platforms which are accessed via a footbridge from Mt Eden Rd. The main access for the CRL city bound platforms will be at Ruru St, about 75m from 78-96 New North Rd.
"Being so close to major train station and within the Auckland Grammar School Zone along with the natural-light-enhancing corner location, makes it ideal for future residential development."
The Mixed Use zone provides for residential activity, plus predominantly smaller scale commercial activity. Intensive development up to four levels or 16m is typically allowed under this zoning," says Haydock.
"This property has an additional height overlay of 21m although reduced over parts of the site, due to Mt Eden Volcanic view shaft restrictions."
