Last piece of the jigsaw' gives opportunity in growth area

A big corner site in Takanini with a vacant warehouse is an ideal large development or owner-occupier opportunity in an area where a mix of uses is intensifying to serve a growing population.

"This site is the last piece of the jigsaw that will complete central Takanini's commercial development," said Paul Jarvie of Colliers International who, with colleague Andrew Hooper, is marketing it for sale by auction at 11am on Thursday.

The 1.37ha corner property at 21 Inlet Rd is next to a new Pak'N Save and near several other big retailers, including The Warehouse, Bunnings, and Mitre 10 Mega.

"There are no other sites of this size left in Takanini," Jarvie said. "This is a significant opportunity for owner-occupiers and developers to purchase a property in a change of use area."

The property has a 6630sq m medium stud warehouse and an office and mezzanine of about 400sq m.

In front of the building is about 3950sq m of yard space. The buildings were occupied by The Trade Depot, which is moving to another location.

"We expect a lot of interest from owner occupiers who see value in the existing building and from developers interested in securing such a well-located site in Takanini," Jarvie said.

The Auckland Council had identified the area as a growth node, and its population and new housing were growing rapidly.

Hooper said the property was zoned Industrial 3, permitting a wide range of uses and acting as a buffer zone between the heavier industrial activities in a zone 4 and residential areas. Under the Auckland Unitary Plan, expected to come into effect in 2016, it will be zoned for light manufacturing including production, logistics, storage, transport and distribution facilities.

"In its current configuration this property would ideally suit manufacturers and large-scale warehouse users," Hooper said.

"But contributing factors, including the location and size, make re-development a viable option.

"The property and its signs have good exposure to thousands of cars on State Highway 1, which is across the estuary, and benefits from direct road access to Great South Rd."

Other features of the building include an 11,000-volt sub-station feed direct to the site.

Takanini is on the shores of the Pahurehure Inlet in Papakura district. It is about 28km southeast of central Auckland, and 18km from Auckland International Airport.

It is a well-established industrial and commercial location that draws labour from residential areas in Takanini, Papakura and Conifer Grove.