SKY HIGH
Take a peek at the stylish interior of Auckland’s tallest residential tower
In the past two months the Pacifica has broken several records. The 57-level apartment building in Auckland CBD officially became New Zealand’s tallest residential tower after developer Hengyi Pacific poured the final slab of concrete on the superstructure, bringing its final height to an impressive 178m.
Equally impressive have been the sales completed since the end of March. Gavin Lloyd, national director of residential projects for CBRE, says his agency has completed $16m worth of apartment sales, including two penthouse suites.
Construction on the Pacifica broke ground in 2017. Since then, developer Hengyi Pacific found that there was increased demand for the larger apartments, so it tweaked the design and reduced the number of apartments it had originally planned to increase the floorspace in the remaining units.
Lloyd says the opening of the show apartment on Level 9 last week will give buyers and potential buyers a chance to see what the building offers, including its spectacular view of Auckland’s harbour.
“People have been eagerly waiting. It’s all dressed and ready to go.
“As with all open homes, there are safety restrictions in place, but for the first time people can experience the real thing, and see those harbour views,” he says.
Lloyd says Covid-19 hasn’t had a negative impact on buyer enquiry, with overseas interest
“With a scheduled finishing date for the fourth quarter of 2020, we are set to give residents the best seat in the house for the 2021 America’s Cup challenge.”
in development surging during the lockdown period.
“Ironically, the lockdown has been very good for us, with $16m of high-profile sales, including two penthouse sales worth over $6m each,” he says.
“We’re yet to find any other off-the-plan sales at such prices in Auckland.”
He adds: “We have also seen a significant uplift in inquiry from across Asia and the US, with buyers seeking a safe ‘bolthole’ investment.”
Lloyd says international buyers see property as a robust investment class in these times, and their interest in the Pacifica is partly a positive reaction to the way Covid-19 has been managed in New Zealand.
“It’s a combination of expats wanting to return, or just invest back in New Zealand,” he says.
Lloyd says that the move to Alert Level 2 has allowed buyers who have finally settled on the sale of their family home to focus on their next step — just in time for the release of the final 38 apartments in the Pacifica. Luxury amenities include 24-hour valet parking, a yoga studio and gym, pool spa and sauna, community terrace, media room, library and residents’ lounge.
Lloyd says he is pretty chuffed that most buyers have decided against changing apartment specs.
"A lot of thought went into that — I think we got it right," he says.
“Where in Auckland do you get a brand-new home with all the other things?
“It’s about the lifestyle experience and was conceived off the back of the great worldclass apartments.
"There’s a tsunami of [baby] boomers who are selling up their houses. You can have the boat parked at Westhaven, lock up and leave."
He adds: “With a scheduled finishing date for the fourth quarter of 2020, we are set to give residents the best seat in the house for the 2021 America’s Cup challenge.”
CBRE have penthouses on the top five levels, all with two bedrooms, two carparks and two baths.
In March one of the 235sq m penthouse apartments sold for $8 million. It was an amalgamation of two adjoining apartments.
Sale: Two-bed apartments from $823,000
Contact: Jennie Clarke, CBRE, 021 0267 0723