A high-profile Lynmore site on the corner of Te Ngae and Tarawera Rds is to be the site of a new development - with three options under consideration.
The site - at present the home of six tenants including La Bonne Bakery, the Corner Pub, TechCafe, a storage business, Alcomand Carters Tyres - has been bought by local developer Tony Bradley.
Bradley told the Rotorua Daily Post he had narrowed the development down to three options, one of which included a unique "bike-in" style bar and restaurant for mountain bikers to gather.
He said unfortunately that concept design had accidentally been posted on Facebook by his architect and shared, sparking speculation the development was a done deal.
Bradley said he saw a need for a meeting place for mountain bikers in Lynmore and he had planned to do it at his other development directly opposite, the Redwood Centre, but it hadn't eventuated.
However, he said he had made no decisions yet and he could end up going with one of his other two options - which included a warehouse or industrial site or splitting the area and having just two larger tenants.
The purchase of the land, which is just under 6000sq m, will be settled tomorrow.
The site on the corner of Tarawera and Te Ngae Rds. Photo / Stephen Parker
Bradley said there were still two leases until the end of the year at the site, the Corner Pub and TechCafe.
"I've got people who want to go in these premises but it's just picking the right mix and making sure it's not in competition with anything else I've got out there ... the Corner Pub has a great following, I could do it up and leave it there, I just don't know yet."
Corner Pub owner Diane Thorpe said she was playing a "waiting game".
"I have got a good clientele and I don't want to let them down. But it's up to Tony, he is now the owner and I am only the tenant ... it's like renting a house and the owner wanting to bowl it. I'm just playing the waiting game, that's all I can do."
Meanwhile, Bradley has just settled another piece of prime real estate in the central city on the corner of Fenton and Pukaki Sts, where City Autos is.
This site on Fenton St is to get developed at the start of next year. Photo / Stephen Parker
Bradley said he wasn't yet in a position to announce what he would do with that site but City Autos would remain for the year.
City Autos' owner, who did not want to be named, said the business would continue at another central city location once the lease was up at the end of the year.
City Autos on Fenton St will remain for at least another year. Photo / Stephen Parker
"The biggest problem we have got is car parking. We want to stay in town but need the parking space and a big building."
He said he would probably lease another site rather than buy one because he was "trying to work my way out so I can retire and go fishing". However a colleague was lined up to take it over after he retired.
