Business park a step closer to reality

When Rowan Clarke’s property services business, MowNua, started getting too big for home, his wife suggested it was time to look for a commercial space.

Clarke found the perfect spot in Prouse St, but the area was suited to housing more than one business.

So he ran the idea of setting up a business park by the owners, who were fully supportive of offering smaller businesses a reasonably priced opportunity to move their operations out of their homes.

Clarke leased the site, divided it up, and proceeded to put the word out that he had space available in an industrial-zoned area of Levin.

Within a matter of weeks he had two more tenants: Refreshed, an ecofriendly social enterprise creating designer products out of recycled waste material; and Bushmen Construction Ltd, a Manawatu¯ business that is repairing pavements around Levin, and needed a local base.

Clarke’s vision is to add a retail shop, such as a dairy, in the available area at the front of the complex and get a food truck business into the yard space with street frontage.

This area will see increased traffic over the coming months as the Tara Ika subdivision grows and, apart from the Mitre 10 Mega cafe, there are no smoko options on that side of town for tradies on the move.

Clarke said he could offer up to three more spaces in the yard to soleowner tradies who could drop a container on site to operate their businesses from. All tenants have access to shared facilities — toilets, shower, kitchen, and smoko room — and the Prouse Street Business Park offers short and long-term leases.

Clarke also wants to share the business costs, such as power, insurance, rates, and internet, among the tenants, which will help to keep everyone’s overall costs down.

Consents for establishing this complex have been okayed by the Horowhenua District Council, and the initial planning step has been given the green light.

Prouse Street Business Park is six months into a three-year lease, and Clarke plans on making this a permanent home for MowNua Property Services and any others that want to jump on board.

Contact Rowan Clarke on 027 766 9682 if you are keen to know more.

Left, headquarters of MowNua Property Services based at the Prouse Street Business Park. MowNua owner Rowan Clarke is creating a new commercial site to be known as Prouse Street Business Park.

Right, Rowan Clarke has the perfect site in the business park for a retail shop, such as a dairy, looking to cater for the tradie crowd.

Below, lots of space on site at the Prouse Street Business Park for setting up a container to run your business from.