Sandringham: Green grass of home

Farmland surrounded them when a couple moved into their brick and tile home 44 years ago.

11 Fowlds Avenue, Sandringham.

The day Helena Mitchell's 12-year-old son asked her to buy him a house with a back lawn was the day she started looking.

``I was so upset,'' recalls Helena, with a smile. ``From the time Ross was 11 months old we'd lived above our two shoe shops - the first in Sandringham Road, then a second in Surrey Crescent in Grey Lynn.

It meant I was always there for him after school, but he must have felt he was missing out on what his friends at school had.''

Following Ross's request, it didn't take long for Helena and her husband Toby to find this comfortable brick and tile house in Fowlds Avenue. That was 44 years ago.

``There used to be farmland between us and Mt Albert Grammar - I could look out the kitchen window and watch Ross running across the paddocks and up the school steps. The farm was managed by a Mr Honeybun - we had one of his cows in our back yard one day.''

Helena has watched the houses grow up around her, and other houses be taken away to be replaced by the St Lukes shopping centre.

She and Toby also made changes to their own property over the years. They rearranged the interior, installed a gas fire in the lounge and added on what became Helena's favourite spot - a sunroom at the north-facing front entrance.

``I've loved sitting out here watching the people go past, and even at night I'd come out with a cup of tea if I couldn't sleep. It's just a lovely room.''

About 38 years ago a separate two-bedroom flat was built in the back yard where Helena's parents spent the last years of their lives.

There remained plenty of space in the 756sq m section for her father to tend a generous vege garden. The yard still boasts a prolific mandarin tree, and others bearing grapefruit, white peaches and guavas.

Helena has lived here on her own since Toby died 18 years ago, but the time has finally come to move on. Now in her 80s, her eyesight is failing and she wants her family to have peace of mind, so has moved into a retirement home.

``I'll miss the locality - I've always had good neighbours, and good tenants in the flat since my parents died. Some of them still come back to visit me.''

Her son and his wife have helped her tidy up the house ready for sale. Ross will also farewell his long-time family home - the one he asked for all those years ago.

``I think he was so pleased to not live above a shop anymore,'' says Helena. ``He loved being in a house.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGES: 2+

SIZE: Land 756sq m, house and flat 188sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $600,000. Auction July 30.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun/Wed 12-1pm.

ON THE WEB: www.open2view.co.nz/132071

CONTACT: Glennis Miller, Cahill Real Estate, ph 021 517 664, 849 2588 bus.

FEATURES: 58-year-old brick and tile house that has been in the same family for the past 44 years. Sunroom, gas fire in main house. Two-bedroom, self-contained flat offers rental income. Large storerooms under flat have potential for development. Sunny garden. Walking distance to St Lukes mall and Mt Albert Grammar.