WHITAKER PARK CENTRAL, 8-10 WHITAKER PLACE GRAFTON
1-2
1-2
1-2
OPTIONS:A: 1-bed, 1-bath apartment, 52 sq m (plus 3.5sq m balcony), from $649,000.
B: 1-bed, 1 bath apartment including internal Juliet balcony, 57sq m, from $639,000.
C: 2-bed, 1.5-bath to 2-bath apartment, many with internal Juliet balcony, 74-98sq m, from $809,000.
D: 2-bed, 2-bath penthouse apartment 81sq m (plus 5sq m balcony), from $1.049 million.
SCHOOL ZONES:
Newton Central Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Grammar, Auckland Girls’ Grammar.
CONTACT:
Rae Zhang or James Graydon, Ray White, 021 629 912 (Rae) or 021 825 746 (James).
PARKING:
Sold separately, $69,000 single, and $159,000 for a double garage.
Six months from some owners' move-in date, attracted by the size, location and the value for money achieved by creating apartments in a former office block, only 15 apartments are now available in Whitaker Park Central.
Designed by BDG Architects, the complex will offer 86 air-conditioned apartments across 16 floorsabove four levels of car parking.
The first nine floors of apartments are the result of a thorough transformation of a former 1980s office block with another seven floors being built above.
A director of developer Balanced Investments, Mike McCombie, says: "I think people will appreciate their size combined with the views and location plus the fact the interiors are going to be gorgeous.
"We're going to see more people living in apartments because of the cost of housing but I say if you're going to be in an apartment, be in an apartment with a bit of space and size. It's just a nicer environment.
"And those are the sort of apartments which retain their value if the market slows a little in the future."
Two-bedroom apartments on offer can be as spacious as 98sq m.
Mike says: "The building is quite elevated and whereas often you only have a view out one side this is essentially open all the way around."
Views include those over Auckland Domain and the Museum with dwellings from Level 13 up getting harbour views.
Construction is progressing on the new upper levels with the steel structure rising that will support a glass curtain wall.
Refurbishment of the existing building, which is predominantly concrete columns and glass, is well underway. It has been seismically and structurally strengthened.
Mike says: "In the main we have gutted the building so many of our owners are pretty much getting a new apartment for a material discount. I think that's a really good option."
He says their apartments' pricing starts from about $9000 a square metre in the refurbished portion.
Balanced Investments has a track record of converting commercial buildings to apartments.
They do both residential and commercial makeovers and have completed a major redevelopment of an older building for the Ministry of Health in Molesworth Street, Wellington.
Whitaker Place's central location has been a big draw card for buyers as the quiet no-exit street off Symonds Street is just 450m to Auckland University and 1km to Auckland Hospital.
It's an 11-minute walk to Queen St, and the Auckland Domain and ASB Tennis Centre are handy.
Among the apartments are some with traditional balconies and some with what developers call a Juliet balcony.
These have a sliding opening to outside protected by a glass balustrade but no exterior projection.
Interior designer Kathryn McMillan of Place Interior Architecture has chosen decor that is crisp, modern and stylish.
Buyers will be able to view a level three showroom apartment from mid-March.
Parking can be bought for $69,000 or $159,000 for a lock-up double garage.
Settlement of apartments will be staged in two chunks with those on levels one to nine scheduled for late August and those of levels 10 to 16 scheduled for completion progressively between September to mid-November.
