Quality, space and style
Look out to the city all lit up at night from your spacious apartment, writes Deborah Telford
This three- bedroom apartment in St Mary’s Bay has several excellent selling points, but its 180- degree sea and city views would have to top the list. The apartment is one of eight on the top floor of a five- level building, constructed out of concrete block and titanium board, that was built as a commercial space by Fletchers 19 years ago.
In a joint venture with Clearwater Construction, developer Paul Lamb of Project Solutions has just finished refitting the fifth level, which had been stripped back to an open shell before its conversion into apartments began in May.
The other four levels of the Hargreaves St building were converted into apartments by a different owner eight years ago.
As part of the new fit out, new lifts have been installed, the foyer has been renovated with marble floors and walls, the whole building has been repainted and exterior cedar cladding has been added on the fifth level.
All eight apartments also have new, aluminum joinery.
“People buying apartments at this level want top- quality services,” says Paul, whose company has done high- end residential builds and renovations for the past 10 years.
At around 120 square metres, this apartment, and its neighbour, 5C, are the largest of the eight and offer great views.
From the open- plan living room, dining room and kitchen, you can see across to Stanley Point, Devonport, Rangitoto Island, nearby Victoria Park, the Sky Tower and the CBD.
“The views are some of the best you will get in Auckland. At night when the city is lit up, it looks like New York City and on a clear day you can see the Coromandel,” says Paul.
Another advantage is the apartment’s location — in a no- exit street off College Hill, which is less than 15 minutes’ walk to Wynyard Quarter, Ponsonby Rd and the central city.
“Everything is so walkable. And because it is in a dead- end street you don’t get 300 cars driving past the front of the building every day so it’s quiet. It’s also far enough away from the motorway not to get
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noise from that.”
The New World supermarket on College Hill is a short walk away at the end of the street and a walkway across the road from the apartment is a shortcut to Victoria Park and the skate bowl next to it.
The apartment’s three double bedrooms, which open off the living space, get good light. The master has an en suite and faces north east to look out across Victoria Park.
The main bathroom to the right of the front door includes a “laundry pod” with a tub and room for a washing machine and dryer.
The apartment also has what Paul calls “an oversized kitchen” and a 2.5sq m storage bay down the hallway next to the lifts.
The apartment also includes a northeast- facing deck that opens off the lounge.
“In summer you can leave the doors wide open because no one can get into the place unless they are Spiderman.”
The apartment is fitted with a sound system, ducted air conditioning and heating, has carpets in the bedrooms and American oak veneer flooring in the living areas.