Seeing is believing
Master- planned community has a range of options, writes Sandra Goodwin
The developers of planned community Kensington Park in Orewa are embracing a “build then sell” approach they believe will appeal to buyers. Executive director of developer Southpark Corporation, John Sax, says: “We said, ‘ Let’s build a number of apartments that we will not release to the market until they are completed or virtually completed.’ That’s a big change for the Auckland market.”
It means buyers can now view up- front and buy apartments in three new buildings in Kensington Park’s north- west corner that are either finished or soon will be. The Sea Breeze, Tui Point and The Ferns buildings have 24 to 28 apartments each.
They offer a range of freehold one- bedroom to three- bedroom apartments with car parking. Fastmoving buyers have already bought all Sea Breeze’s one- bedroom dwellings.
Plenty of 16ha Kensington Park’s existing mix of terraced and freestanding homes and apartments have been bought off the plans in the past decade. John says the factors drove Southpark, which has been developing properties for more than 30 years, was to anticipate more buyers would want the surety of completed apartments.
“We could see the pressure on building costs. We were becoming increasingly concerned for people that were making commitments to buy apartments off the plans where the developers had no obligation to proceed.
“We suspected there was going to be an increase in other developments that failed to get off the ground or had developers come back and ask buyers for more money. Both those situations can be devastating to buyers.
“So about 18 months ago we said we still will sell off the plans but we need good inventory to make it easy for people to purchase.”
That also allows buyers to purchase in the short- term without the sometimes lengthy wait for off- the- plans dwellings to be completed.
John believes the three new concrete buildings offer some of the best apartments the planned community has produced.
“They’re in a very quiet part of the estate, slightly elevated.”
Already completed Sea Breeze apartments incorporate nautical exterior aspects such as porthole windows while soon- to- be completed Tui Point apartments include some with great sea views. Some nearly finished Ferns apartments have particularly peaceful outlooks over the reserve with native trees, walking trails and streams bordering Kensington Park.
All the new dwellings share the community’s facilities including swimming pool, gym vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Apartment specifications include video intercoms, heat pumps, washing machines, dryers and Smeg kitchen appliances.
A portion of apartments have particularly generous dedicated terraces even larger than their interiors.
John says Orewa’s increasingly vibrant nature is driving its popularity and attracting young families.
“Once it was a sleepy little holiday or retirement destination but it’s a very different place from that now. People who haven’t been there for a while may not realise it is becoming more like the Mt Maunganui of Auckland or like St Heliers and Kohi but with much more accessible pricing.
“There are great amenities such cafes and so many activities such as sports, clubs and music on the beach.
“And outside of peak hour traffic — peak- hour traffic is ugly anywhere — it’s about 25 minutes to Queen St, so it’s highly accessible.” KENSINGTON PARK, OREWA Sea Breeze: Tui Point: The Ferns: BODY CORP: INSPECT: SCHOOLS: CONTACT: ON THE WEB: