Walking to and from work is one of the many things Christine Barker has enjoyed about apartment living.
Exercise and fresh air was her lot while fellow workers were sitting in traffic - and the money she saved she put towards entertainment. Christine has changed jobs now, working in Epsom, but says inner city living offers many attractions other than just beating the commute - the biggest being more free time.
"When I used to work in Queen St, it was lovely walking to work," Christine says. "Even in winter, it was beautiful walking down Greys Ave; it was only a quarter of an hour while everyone else was sitting in traffic for an hour.
"I saved about $100 a week in petrol and bus fares by living in the city so I could put that towards eating out."
Christine bought her apartment in Beresford Square 18 years ago and says she has "loved every moment of it".
"It was a big change at the time," she says. "I was used to a garden and a washing line but living here has freed up my weekends. I now spend that time having coffees up the road and seeing friends. Plus the shopping just outside my front door is great and we have a new supermarkets close by."
Christine's north-facing apartment building with harbour views was one of the first in the area at a time "Karangahape Rd was starting to pick up".
"Now there are great restaurants and cafes just up the road and because there are more people living and working in the city now, there are always people out on the streets so you feel really safe," she says. "I always walk around at night and always feel safe."
That ability to walk is a major benefit for inner city dwellers. Everything entertainment is easily accessible - from major concerts at Vector Arena to cinema and a wide choice of theatres hosting plays and stage shows, ranging from the ornate Civic Theatre to intimate venues like Silo and Q Street.
The Auckland Art Gallery is within easy reach of all apartment dwellers, as are restaurant and entertainment precincts like Britomart, the Viaduct, Wynyard Quarter, Sky City and Federal Street and K Road - all without risking increasingly strict drink-drive laws.
Christine also uses the convenient Link bus to get around and is close to motorway on-ramps when she wants to get out of town.
One of her worries about moving into an apartment was noise but double-glazing shuts out external noise and "everyone in the building here is quiet and considerate because we are living close together".
"I go out to my sister's place in the suburbs at the weekend and I swear it's noisier," she says. "Everyone has their chainsaws and lawnmowers going."
Christine was an early adopter and the move to inner city living is gathering pace - driven by people wanting to cut out the frustrations of commuting and free up time spent on property maintenance; instead they enjoy a CBD that is developing a real buzz.
Gavin Lloyd, CBRE's National Director of Residential Projects, says the number of people living in the Auckland CBD has grown from 10,000 to almost 30,000 in the past 12 years and is projected to grow to 45,000 by 2032.
According to his research, there are about 95,000 jobs in the CBD rising to 140,000 by 2032.
Gavin says apartment owners are buying into an international city coming of age under a council master plan. The waterfront is being opened up, areas such as Britomart and Wynyard Quarter are being redeveloped as entertainment precincts, transport links are being improved, streets are becoming pedestrianised and the council is staging and attracting major events. Being close to the city's education options is also a major drawcard for apartment buyers.
"Utopia used to be the quarter acre but now people are buying apartments and saying my backyard is Britomart, Albert Park, or Westhaven where I have my yacht moored," says Gavin. "Instead of mowing lawns, apartment owners are going for a yoga class in the morning, meeting friends for lunch at Britomart and then going to see a show at Vector Arena in the evening."
Former All Black coach Sir Graham Henry is a classic example, recently buying a waterfront apartment because he wanted to be part of the excitement of downtown; he is close to the ferry that takes him to his Waiheke Island home.
CBRE sales manager, Rita Haagner, who is marketing The Maritime Apartments in Anzac Ave, has worked the inner city market for years and has witnessed a sea change in buyers' attitudes.
"When I started out, they were hard selling but now they are absolutely flying and we are getting so many more sales off the plans," says Rita.
"The mindset is the convenience factor and affordability," she says, "plus apartments being built now are beautifully designed for modern living."
The Maritime display suite at Level 2, 29-31 Anzac Avenue is open now for pre-sale preview. Viewing hours this week are from 12pm until 4pm daily. Find out more at www.maritimeapartments.co.nz
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