WALK THIS WAY
A quality new apartment build in Meadowbank is resonating with those who’ve reassessed their priorities following the lockdown
If there’s one thing we’ve learned during the past weeks of sudden entry and gradual easing out of lockdown, is how important the place you’re living in is to making a good lifestyle.
That’s what developer Matt Anderson, from McConnell Property Ltd, has found as the company’s latest project, Teal on Orakei, swings into site works and preparation.
“We’re seeing this across the board since lockdown. It’s given people time to assess their priorities, so lifestyle is an important factor.
“Here we’re close to nature, close to the water and people have been able to explore the neighbourhood. We all got used to walking everywhere. So being well-connected — you can walk around the basin, transport is right there. Teal on Orakei really delivers on that.”
Anderson says that the 700m boardwalk that starts right at Teal’s door gets you to Orakei Village with its cafes, shops and Farro Fresh market, and that’s resonated with buyers. Indeed, only nine of the 24 apartments in the development remain for sale.
Trent Quinton of Bayleys, who is marketing the properties with Julie Quinton and Ellis Barkley, says that the two sales completed during lockdown showed that people were future-proofing their lifestyle.
“People were thinking about their next move, they’re not worried about talk of house prices, they’re downsizing from the big family home and just love the location.
“It’s like living out in Karaka, it’s just beautiful, but you just cross the boardwalk to the shops. And the city is only two train stops away.”
Anderson adds that the unique site, perched above the tree-line for uninterrupted views of city and water, means these will never be built out.
“In big cities around the world, there’s this trend to good apartments on suburban transport nodes. It means you don’t have to use your car to get into the city, but you’ve got bush views, water views, rural views. That really resonates with a lot of people.”
He says that McConnell’s philosophy through its long history of quality apartment builds is to create not just good buildings, but also a sense of community for the people living there.
Architects Ashton Mitchell have designed the two- and three-bedroom apartments to avoid big long corridors, instead having two entries, two lifts and two sets of stairs — which means top-floor penthouse apartments (there are three still on the market) can be full-width for maximum sun and views.
The penthouses’ gabled and sawtooth roofs and full height windows add to the character of the building, giving the apartment the look of a series of terrace houses from the boardwalks.
Naturally the finishes, bathrooms and kitchens are those of high-end architectural houses, but it is the location, at 1 Purewa Rd, Meadowbank, that will win buyers’ hearts: the native birdsong from Purewa Valley, the cycleways, walking tracks through native bush and along grassy verges on the shoreline, and boardwalks over the water with unobstructed views of the Orakei Basin.
With the display suite open for viewings, Anderson expects this lifestyle will really resonate with the last remaining buyers.
Sale: Two-bedroom from $1.495 million
Contact: Trent Quinton, Bayleys, 021 894 070; Ellis Barkley, 021 261 2590; Julie Quinton 021 894 071
“It’s like living out in Karaka, it’s just beautiful, but you just cross the boardwalk to the shops. And the city is only two train stops away.”