Soft drink building could fizz again

The L&P building at 7 Station Road, Paeroa, is "world famous in New Zealand". Photo / Supplied

An industrial building which previously housed the "world famous" L&P soft drink production plant in Paeroa is for sale.

Lemon & Paeroa - or L&P as it is now branded - was created in 1907 by combining the carbonated mineral water of Paeroa with lemon juice. The first bottling plant in the town was established in late 1908-early 1909.

A large commercial and industrial property on the corner of Station Rd and Albert St in Paeroa was first used as a bottling operation for the brand in 1926.

Expansions and refurbishments meant the Paeroa bottling plant increased in size over the ensuing decades, until being closed when production moved to Auckland in 1980.

Now the 1062sq m of freehold land and 900sq m high-stud building are being marketed for sale at auction on May 18, through Bayleys Waikato. The property features in Bayleys' latest Total Property portfolio magazine.

Bayleys Waikato salesperson Josh Smith says it is zoned for commercial use under the Hauraki District Council plan.

Paeroa, which intersects SH 2 and SH 26, has prospered since the Karangahake Gorge Waihi-to-Paeroa leg of the Hauraki Rail Trail opened in 2013.

"Though the building is structurally sound and operable in its current format, with some external redesign and refurbishment it could be easily brought up to a modern look befitting its presence on Paeroa's main street," says Smith.

It is made of block and corrugated iron with steel framed portals spanning the roof. The flooring is predominantly concrete on the ground level, with wooden flooring sustaining the mezzanine level.

Smith says the premises are now tenanted by a second hand goods shop at the front, and a motor vehicle repair workshop/car wreckers operating from the back of the building and out on to the external yard.

The tenant is trading on a month-to-month basis and is in a position to vacate the building with short notice - in line with any new owner's request.

"The front portion of the building has a mezzanine level. Upstairs are several former offices now used as storage space.

There is also an consented self-contained flat on the upper storey - comprising a kitchenette, shower, living area, and toilet. The ground floor has several smaller rooms to the sides.

"At the rear of the property a large high-span double door opens to the main road, with a single high span door opening to the secure yard area accessed from Albert St.

Combined, these give a potential "drive through" format to the warehouse aspect of the building.

"The internal building infrastructure is already there to sustain the full range of employee amenities a commercial business operator would expect to find - from office space, through to toilet and bathroom facilities, and a staff kitchen and lunch room area.

For many commercial or retail tenants though, that basic framework of rooms and spaces does require some degree of refurbishment," says Smith.

The land and buildings at 7 Station Rd have a council rating valuation of $180,000.
A new building standards (NBS) report on the building is currently being undertaken.