ON OFFER:
92 one-, two- and three-bed (some with study) apartments across six floors, with 511sq m of retail space; the final building in a mixed use complex designed by Swann Railley Architects in the emerging uptown precinct. With high (2.6m) studs, quality fit-outs, larger-than-average footprints and recessed balconies. All have urban views, and upper floors have views to Rangitoto, Mt Eden or the Waitakere Ranges.
PRICE INDICATION:
One-bed from $635,000 to $925,000 (with study), includes carpark; two-beds from $795 to $1.215 million (with study); three-beds from $1.15 million to $1.495 million and includes two carparks.
INSPECT:
Display suite open daily noon to 3pm at 8 Nugent St.
CONTACT:
Cici Wang, Barfoots, 021 280 2828 or Mike Thorpe, 021 877 351.
On a windy Auckland autumn day, James Rigg, commercial manager for the Neil Group surveys the site of the final building in the company's 8 Nugent complex.
He has spent 10 years developing the former Ministry of Education office block and hostel into a stylish precinct on the city fringewhere Grafton meets Eden Terrace meets Newton.
When he began work on the project, the former Auckland City Council was pretty new to the idea of mixed-use neighbourhoods, obsessing over having enough car parking -- and the area was barely enticing. Now the neighbourhood even has a catchy moniker -- Uptown.
In the past couple of years the surrounding streets have certainly been polished up -- a couple of stylishly designed buildings have joined ECC over the road; just past the roundabout Normanby Rd has buzzing cafes, design shops and Sabato. Up the top of Mt Eden Rd a newish cluster of hip shops and eateries have joined long-termer Galbraiths Alehouse and The French Cafe. In warehouses vacated for the city rail link, there's even an emerging innovation hub.
All of which makes James very excited about the demand for Nugent Rise.
When the Neil Group bought the site in 2006, it originally planned three commercial buildings and a parking building. It was a pretty innovative break-out for the former suburban tract builders of 50 years, but they spotted a gap for the sort of high-quality builds they were known for. The first stage, completed in mid-2009, refurbished the ministry building, built a multi-storey carpark and created the basement and podium level for the future Nugent Rise block.
As the city emerged from the global financial crisis, the company realised there was more demand for apartments than for commercial space, so retro-fitted the first block into 56 homes, which immediately sold. An office block followed and now the company is marketing the final apartment block on the original podium.
James says the company has focused on high quality, using striking cedar panel to re-clad the brutal 1970s original, creating a shared-space plaza at street level (no curbs, no speeding), adding covered colonnades linking the buildings and plenty of attractive landscaping to welcome pedestrians.
Image 1 of 3: Out from Nugent Rise went the civil servants -- and in came the cool crowd, writes Kate Williams
There's a Body Tech gym, a cool cafe, and the whole complex feels miles away from busy highways or congested city mere blocks away. The car park block, tucked on the fourth side of the plaza allows for parking for up to 600 residents and workers.
Speaking with existing apartment dwellers the firm discovered they enjoyed the location as they can walk most anywhere they need to. Many work at the hospital and enjoy walking to the Domain.
To respond to demand that city dwellers prefer not to take out their cars, Nugent Rise will provide bike racks as well as the one or two carparks and storage lockers included with each apartment.
As well as the usual double glazing and insulation, other features include LED lighting, blinds for sun control, a full suite of energy efficient appliances. The Neil Group has upgraded usual apartment specifications to offer solid oak floors (not engineered veneers), Caesarstone bench tops with waterfall edging in the kitchen and striking marble-look tiles in the bathrooms.
Project architect Graeme Ricketts, of Swan Railley Architects, says the apartments are roomy -- one-beds range from 55sq m to an impressive 77sq m, and the largest apartments are up to 126sq m. All have generous balconies.
Because the block has a larger-than usual footprint, there are plenty of sunny north- and west-facing apartments. He specified floor-to-ceiling glass, and each of the covered balconies (again, ranging from 8 to 33sq m) can be closed off to create an outdoor room, essential in Auckland's variable weather.
The exterior of the block has a pleasing, irregular rhythm ("gridded, but not boring") of aluminium, cedar soffits on the terraces and earthy concrete, punctuated with cubes of orange -- materials that complement the adjoining blocks of 8 Nugent and nod to the 60s and 70s of the original block. Even the least-seen west side has a pleasing quality.
Although sales do not open until next week Matt says there has already been strong interest. Owners of tightly held neighbouring blocks are keen to up-size and up-spec to the new apartments.
The combination of walkable neighbourhood, access to public transport and good design will make this an important addition to Uptown Auckland.
