Central city convenience
Apartment living means more time for family, writes Sandra Goodwin
Time is a precious commodity for families, and the owners of this recently renovated prime apartment say swapping the suburbs for inner city convenience gifted their family a whole lot more of it. Cass and Neal Williams moved from Greenlane to Lorne St’s upmarket Precinct Residences four years ago when son Oli was nearly 5.
Cass says: “Neal has worked in the city for most of that time, able to walk home and be with us within five minutes instead of being stuck commuting in traffic.
“And instead of spending precious weekend time on things like mowing lawns we can head just across the road to Albert Park where Oli has picked out one particular tree as his tree hut.”
Neal is a detail orientated project architectural manager, so thoroughly researched apartment buildings before choosing this one. He says the developer of the Precinct Residences bundled the air rights above a neighbouring property he owned to the north in with Precinct titles, future- proofing apartment views.
Neal says: “The concrete and glass construction of the building and large balconies was appealing because this type of construction ensured it was not a leaky building.”
This apartment has none of that “boxed- in” feeling some urban residences have, feeling particularly light and spacious because of the protected air space to its north, and Lorne St to the west. Living and bedrooms flow out to a roomy balcony wrapping around those two sides.
Neal says: “You quite often see beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and the reflection of fireworks in glass office buildings during celebrations.”
This is the only apartment on the eighth floor. That level also houses the gym, sauna and heated indoor swimming pool. Cass frequently waterwalks and swims to help a back injury she has as a result of having worked as a nurse.
However, her family have never lived in this apartment, instead living in a 46sq m one elsewhere in the building they bought at the same time, intending to eventually upsize to this one.
They’d anticipated living here for years to come, impressed with the body corporate, building security and closeness to transport and inner city facilities. Once Oli outgrew his beloved Freemans Bay Primary, where Cass has worked as a teachers’ aide, he’d be zoned for Auckland Grammar.
Since purchase they’ve rented this larger apartment out to successive building managers, some with families. It now feels enticingly new, as Neal has just designed and overseen a thorough renovation having judged its 140sq m floor- plate would be better reconfigured from two bedrooms to three bedrooms plus an office nook. A new entertainers’ kitchen featuring a granite splashback and island gleams in the open- plan kitchenliving- dining room with white oak floors.
Three bedrooms with double wardrobes accompany an en suite, main bathroom with statement bath, an office alcove and in- cupboard laundry. Sunscreen and sunblock blinds are fitted throughout.
Apartment 801 has one car park, accessed via the Kitchener St vehicular entrance and two car lifts.
Cass says: “In the apartment we live in we’ve had to be mindful of not making too much noise with a growing boy running around, whereas the children who lived in this apartment have been able to enjoy the freedom of running around without disturbing other residents, as it’s situated above a car- park, which you don’t hear any noise from.”
The Williams are selling this apartment and moving out of Auckland hoping a different pace of life will help Cass’ back mend.
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801 PRECINCT RESIDENCES, 6 LORNE ST, AUCKLAND CITY SIZE: PRICE GUIDE: BODY CORP: AUCTION: INSPECT:
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