New street life for old bank

The ANZ building in the centre of Upper Hutt’s Main St retailing is to have a new lease of life.

The two-story building on the corner of Geange St has been bought by Cameron Macneil, a local real estate agent.

He bought the 1980s building for $570,000 and plans to redevelop it with ground floor retailing and upper-level apartments.

The building has been vacant for two years following an industry merger and the ANZ branch moving to the National Bank opposite.

While the property remained leased its increasingly tired look had prompted concern about its negative impact on the city’s main retailing area.

‘‘It’s a very well-known, highprofile building and I know people were wondering about its future,’’ Macneil said.

The 26-year-old will look at a mix of options for the building’s 320 square metre ground floor.

‘‘This will be an an exciting opportunity for new businesses,’’ he said. ’’It would be awesome for a cafe, for instance, with its north facing footpath but really I am leaving the options open.

‘‘We could split the ground floor into two or three spaces.’’

Macneil’s plans for three, twobedroom apartments fit his view on how the Upper Hutt CBD will change.

‘‘The CBD is getting more and more vibrant and busy. I have real confidence in what it offers and believe that in the future there will be more inner-city apartments.

‘‘While it’s a myth that retail is dying in Upper Hutt there are buildings with first floor office space which, because of changes in technology and the way people work these days might not be leased.

‘‘The opportunity is there for more apartments,’’ he said.

Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy said Macneil’s plans were positive for the city.

‘‘It’s a major building on the Main St. It’s in a prime location and Cameron is showing real confidence with this investment.

‘‘He’s obviously seen an opportunity and is thinking differently and positively. This sort of thing totally fits with the council economic stimulus policies which are all about helping with the continuing revitalisation of this area,’’ Guppy said.