Potential plus at converted church
AHISTORIC church that’s been converted into a boutique gift and homeware shop near Auckland is for sale by negotiation.
The Karaka Family Church, at 458 Karaka Rd, dates to 1890 and is just south of Auckland on State Highway 22, which links State Highway One with Pukekohe, Karaka, Paerata, Waiuku and Awhitu.
It was relocated from nearby Pokeno in 1917 and remained a place of worship for Methodists and Presbyterians until it sold privately in 2003.
The split-level landmark changed hands again in 2007 and underwent nine months of substantial renovation and landscaping.
The front was rebuilt, the roof replaced, the exposed cathedral-style ceiling beams restored to their native state, the matai floors polished, and the hall turned into a residence.
Owner Rachael Buxton retained as much as of the original character and fac¸ ade as possible but the structure of the premises or their use isn’t restricted by Historic Places Trust covenants, Peter Migounoff and Stefni Baigent, of Bayleys Counties, say.
Migounoff says the access points and internal configuration of the property mean it could be repurposed for uses that include converting the residence at the rear of the building into a function and hospitality venue.
‘‘While the building’s 90-square metre commercial space has housed a retail operation selling homewares and furnishings, the area could easily be converted into a cafe´ , art gallery, or offices.
‘‘Under its current configuration, the commercial space has its own entry, kitchenette and bathroom.’’
Internal and external stairs connect the upper commercial level to the 330sqm three-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling with three living areas and an open-plan kitchen.
‘‘With appropriate consenting and the installation of a commercial-grade kitchen, the downstairs residential area could be converted for use as a hospitality venue,’’ Migounoff says.
‘‘With some 110 square metres of wrap-around decking flowing onto flat landscaped and highly-manicured lawns and gardens, the lower level could easily accommodate wedding functions or large private gatherings, benefiting from indoor-outdoor flow through two sets of bi-fold French doors.
‘‘It would be ironic that after witnessing the consecration of scores of weddings over the past hundred or so years, the building could evolve into being the next step in the process: hosting the post-marriage festivities.’’
The 420sqm of church buildings are on 1671sqm of freehold land zoned residential 9F that includes car parking for up to 12 vehicles on a gravelled lot at the front of the property.
Baigent says there’s also substantial roadside parking close to the property.
‘‘The split-level nature of the premises means it could be purchased by an owneroperator wanting a work-from-home style arrangement, or by an investor who could either occupy the residential dwelling and let out the commercial space or let out both portions of the property to separate mixed-use tenancies.
‘‘Alternatively, the property could be run solely as a high-end four-bedroom commercial accommodation venue with an owner living off-site.’’
For more information, contact Peter Migounoff on 027 492 0788 (peter.migounoff@bayleys.co.nz) or Stefni Baigent on 021 758 227 (stefni.baigent@bayleys.co.nz).