Historic Devonport site allows development

The 990sq m character Duders waterfront building at 30 King Edward Ave, Devonport.

One of Devonport's best known historic late baroque buildings is on the market for the first time since the 1980s.

It's believed that part of the late John McHugh's estate - a two-storey building at 30 King Edward Parade, originally known as R & R Duder - has been on the 1123sq m site for more than 130 years.

The street frontage once included a bakery and a land agents' office.

McHugh, who died two years ago, was a well-known Devonport businessman and community board member, who sponsored many groups and events.

The 990sq m character Duders waterfront building, which has uninterrupted views across the harbour to central Auckland, is being marketed through Savills associate director Harold McCracken and managing director Paddy Callesen.

It will be sold by private treaty closing on December 2.

Well known gallery Art by the Sea and Platters Restaurant and Cafe occupy the street front of the building paying annual holding income of $134,000 but Callesen says applying a market rental to the ground floor leases and the vacant top floor could generate about $300,000.

There is a large car park at the rear of the building.

Although the property is not a listed historic building it is included in Auckland Council's heritage overlay for the area. It is also of interest to Maori as their ancestors landed in the bay area.

The heritage overlay means the facade of the property cannot be altered, but it can be redeveloped within and another floor added.

"A developer would need to work with the council on retaining the facade if they wanted to redevelop the property," McCracken says.

He says the corner building is suitable for an owner-occupier who could establish a business on the ground floor and convert the other floor to a large apartment or multiple apartments and make a mark on Devonport.

"The full commercial kitchen used by the Duders business, is still in place on the 496sq m top floor and minimal remodelling would be required for an investor interested in the hospitality sector. "

Zoning for the building comes under the Auckland Unitary Plan's neighbourhood centre.

"An owner occupier could have their own apartment with income from the stores below for only a little more than the apartments which have been developed opposite Duders on the old Masonic Hotel site. They sold for about $3 million or $12,000 per sq m.

McCracken says the whole site could also be redeveloped behind the facade into two levels of apartments with ground floor retail or leased to somebody interested in the hospitality business, such as restaurants or catering.

"There is a significant amount of undeveloped land. The property has just 40 per cent coverage, so there are many opportunities for the historic property.

At the time the building was first erected Devonport was the commercial centre of the North Shore.

As the main point of communication with Auckland, it was a centre for goods and services to outlying areas such as Takapuna and Milford, and country settlements further to the north.

Many stores and local businessmen served large areas with orders for food, tools, clothing and medicines.

The Duder brothers' enterprise was so large that it imported its own goods from overseas and had its own wharf across the road from its store.

By the 1970s, artists were attracted to the affordable village atmosphere in Devonport. In this period groups formed and used The Works, an artisan centre located in the former Duder store. Glass blowing, a pottery kiln, fine furniture and a crafts co-operative occupied the building.

McHugh bought the building in the 1990s and extensive renovations costing $250,000 were made in 2001 and some alterations and additions in 2003. The property has a 2014 valuation of $2,650,000.