Sandra Goodwin: Outlook is positive

New neighbour Outlook, Kepa Road, Mission Bay. Photo / Supplied

Swift sales off the plans may see construction nudge forward on a development to be built on the Mission Bay ridgeline opposite Eastridge Shopping Centre.

Martin Cooper, who is developing Outlook Mission Bay at 236 Kepa Rd in a joint venture with Mike Sullivan, says: "We've been averaging 100 groups through our display suite weekly. Within five weeks of marketing, 48 per cent by value of our apartments were sold or under contract.

"Confidence in the speed of sales brought test piling forward from September to August.
"We're close to starting construction, which was scheduled to start in November. Subject to a few more sales, we may be able to start a bit earlier."

Wide harbour views, combined with garden or city perspectives, have proved attractive to buyers.

Outlook's three buildings have been designed by Christchurch-based MAP Architects. Two two-storey mews will flank a shared garden to the north of a five-storey Kepa Rd tower maximising views over Mission Bay to Rangitoto.

Cooper says: "As well as a virtual reality experience, we have a five-storey scaffold tower onsite to illustrate the views. One husband, who was unsure about buying, went up the tower and said, 'Well, that makes it pretty easy; I could die looking at that view."

The address is close to public transport and Eastridge, and 1.4 km from Mission Bay Village. There will be 41 apartments, a tally down one since a buyer combined two.

Cooper says: "We've been surprised by how strong buyer appetite is for larger apartments. People are prepared to pay for our larger apartments, some saying they want space for when their grandchildren are around.

"However, there's also been intense demand for our one-bedroom apartments."
Outlook's range extends up to three-bedroom penthouses with extras such as media rooms.

Buyers are typically couples or singles in their fifties and sixties, some seeking an urban base to complement another property out-of-town.

Martin says: "They love our strong northerly aspect, Gretl Lukas's interior design and the local amenities. Many are keen walkers who say they'd feel more comfortable walking around this area during the day than being right in town."

The pet-friendly buildings above basement parking are replacing three individual homes. The buildings will predominantly be concrete with extensive double glazing.

The Kepa Rd elevation will feature ground floor lobbies and timber-look screens for privacy and scale.

No apartments face south.

A few offer private courtyard gardens in addition to the sheltered shared garden designed by Boffa Miskell to incorporate a residents' barbecue-dining pavilion.

All air-conditioned apartments have kitchens featuring natural stone and oak. Many have separate laundries and most tower apartments include glass-sheathed 'outdoor rooms'.

This development is the first under Cooper and Sullivan's joint venture Countrywide Residences but the project is the 10th the builder, architect and structural engineer have done together.

Sullivan's building and civil engineering company Clearwater Construction has operated since 1984 while Cooper's company Cooper and Associates' experience includes development, managing Remuera's St Marks development.

• Outlook is scheduled for completion late 2019. Display suite at 236 Kepa Rd Mission Bay open daily 10am-2pm plus Thurs 6-8pm.

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