Weekend Herald

Radio station a Deco delight

- Paul Charman

The land and building which housed the first radio station to broadcast across the Hawke’s Bay out of Napier are now for sale. The two-storey C.B Hansen and Coy Building in Napier’s Art Deco precinct was built in 1933 and is registered in Napier City Council’s Art Deco Inventory of architectu­rallyimpor­tant buildings in the city. The property’s original owners were automotive electrical firm CB Hansen which ran its workshop from the lower floor and leased out the top floor to Radio New Zealand for its Hawke’s Bay broadcasti­ng and newsroom studios.

The top floor of the premises at 73-81 Dalton St was converted to a restaurant in the mid-1990s — with Italian eatery Casa Gardini serving pizza and pastas from the premises until 2002, when the restaurant was converted into office space. During the 1980s the street-level space was occupied by Brian Athea Antiques, with a car audio retailer operating from the site in the early 2000s, and it has also housed an Asian grocery store.

Now the 412sq m building, on some 326sq m of freehold land, is being marketed for sale by deadline private treaty through Bayleys Napier, with offers closing at 4pm on March 6. It features Bayleys’ latest Total Property portfolio magazine.

Bayleys Napier salesperso­n Sam MacDonald describes a major structural strengthen­ing and modernisat­ion programme.

“The interior is redecorate­d along Art Deco lines, with leadlight windows and period doorways installed; high-stud walls retaining stark white lines and polished concrete flooring. The refurbishm­ent added new electrical wiring and lighting; new plumbing; a fire alarm system; an electronic key-tag entry system; air conditioni­ng units and a new roof. The rear deck area at the back of the upper level is upgraded. The end result is one of Napier’s best presented Art Deco commercial properties, seamlessly combining the flamboyant character of the 1930s with the design sophistica­tion of today.

“The outdoor deck area shared by the tenants on the upper level for example brings a taste of ‘big city’ chic to the location — and is used almost daily as an al-fresco dining room, or for drinks and socialisin­g after work.”

The property generates annual rental of more than $137,000 from six commercial tenancies:

● Peppers Hair and Beauty Boutique occupying 55sq m, on a lease running through to 2023 with two further three-year rights of renewal, generating rental of $24,000 plus GST pa.

● Jellybean Brewing Supplies, occupying 58sq m, on a lease running through to 2023, with two further three-year rights of renewal, generating rental of $16,970 plus GST pa.

● Corporate branding design and marketing company Media Mint, occupying 107sq m on a lease running through to 2023 with three further three-year rights of renewal, generating rental of $30,000 plus GST pa.

● An asset management company occupying 55sq m, on a lease through to 2021 with three further three-year rights of renewal, generating rental of $24,000 plus GST pa.

● Massage parlour Club Rendezvous occupying 125sq m, on a lease to 2020 with two further twoyear rights of renewal, generating rental of $30,515 plus GST pa.

● E-bike retailer Vallkree occupying 16sq m, on a lease running through to 2020 with two further twoyear rights of renewal, generating rental of $12,000 plus GST pa.

Dalton St is in the heart of Napier, a short walk from two Napier City Council operated car parks.

 ??  ?? The building at 73-81 Dalton St has six commercial tenancies. It has been redecorate­d along Art Deco lines.
The building at 73-81 Dalton St has six commercial tenancies. It has been redecorate­d along Art Deco lines.
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