City units reach for the SKHY
“These commercial offerings will also be an attractive proposition for investors looking to add value.”
Sixteen new freehold office and retail units in the SKHY residential and commercial precinct in Grafton are expected to attract interest from both investors and owner occupiers.
The commercial units, ranging in size from 69sq m to 125sq m, are part of a redevelopment of the 4700 sq m former Winstone Group head office at 38 Khyber Pass Rd, near the intersection with Symonds St.
Designed by award winning Cheshire Architects, the development’s initial focus has been on marketing its 112 apartments, said Tim Lamont of developers Lamont & Co.
“With the sell down of the residences now largely complete, the focus has shifted to the commercial units. These will also be an important part of the community that has been created on this large site,” he said.
The units are for sale by private treaty and priced from $650,000 plus GST to $1.2m plus GST, including one basement carpark. They are being marketed by James Were and Phil Haydock, from Bayleys’ Auckland city & fringe team, and Colliers International brokers Jonathan Lynch and Hamish Paterson.
“These commercial offerings will appeal to smaller business operators wanting to own their own premises in a high quality central Auckland development,” says Were.
“They will also be an attractive proposition for investors looking for an opportunity to add value. They could tap into the current strong demand for small, well tenanted commercial premises by leasing them up and on-selling them. Alternatively, they could retain them as a good longterm investment.”
Lynch says there are three distinct types of units being offered:
● Five ground level units ranging from 69sq m to 124sq m with street frontage on to Khyber Pass Rd and asking prices from $720,000 to $1.12m. These would suit retail businesses because of their high profile on one of central Auckland’s busiest roads, says Lynch. “It would be an ideal location for convenience stores, showrooms, cafes or other food outlets.”
● Five levels in a standalone office building, on a corner of the site, ranging from about 105 to 120sq m. “Each level is on its own unit title and offers smaller businesses the opportunity to secure their own office floor in a high quality, boutique building that is very well positioned within minutes of the CBD, Newmarket, Ponsonby and Mt Eden,” says Lynch. “The location is also close to the Grafton and Mt Eden train stations as well as motorway connections which open it to the wider city.”
He says extensive glazing on all sides of the building plus a high stud provides plenty of natural light. The floors have exposed ceiling building services with provision for energy efficient air conditioning and lighting to suit each owner’s individual requirements. These units range in price from $860,000 to $1.2m.
● Five units ranging from about 77 to
119sq m and priced from $650,000 to $910,000. These overlook a lush courtyard at the heart of the SKHY precinct which is easily accessible for pedestrians via two laneways off Hohipere St and Khyber Pass Rd. “The courtyard has been designed by Damian Wendelborn of Urbanite Landscape Design,” says Lynch . . . Were says in addition to the basement car parking, there is a range of other parking options nearby with an Auckland Council car park directly opposite and a number of Wilson parking sites also close by.
The SKHY site originally housed the head office of the Winstone Group, once the country’s largest supplier of construction materials, which was taken over by Fletcher Building in
2000.
The elevated property provides panoramic views. The 14-level building was redeveloped into 65 apartments in the first stage of the SKHY project and these sold out quickly. The second stage of the development was completed last year.