Chic inner-city apartment complex for sale
A New-York style inner-city apartment complex, close to both Auckland’s arterial cycle network and one of the central city’s burgeoning rail stations, has been placed on the market.
Built in the late 1900s as an office block, the dual storey rectangular-shaped property in the Auckland suburb of Newton was tastefully converted into residential use in the 2000s.
It now contains nine apartments, comprising eight one-bedroom residences and one two-bedroom apartment, all accessed by an electronic security door.
The single-bedroom apartments range from 19sq m to 33sq m, while the two-bedroom unit is 58sq m.
The property has a combined floor space of 282sq m including a shared communal courtyard recreational area, and comes with three allocated carparks in a secure garage behind roller doors.
The one-bedroom units are rented for between $270-390 per week, depending on their size, while the two-bedroom unit generates a weekly return of $445. The tenancies are on a mix of rolling periodic terms with some expiring later this year and others expiring next year.
Karanga a Hape Central Rail Link station is under construction just a few hundred metres from the front door, while access to the landmark purple Central Auckland cycle trail – known as The Lightpath – is also just a few hundred metres away.
The apartment complex on an elevated site at 8 South St is being marketed for sale at auction on September 28 through Bayleys Auckland.
Salespeople Paul Dixon and Layne Harwood said the block would appeal to a wide range of buyers looking to acquire a residential property asset.
“This is a ‘must view’ property for both residential and commercial property investors looking for a splitrisk asset which could be run in its current format or could be repurposed as a short-stay accommodation option for those visiting the city,” said Dixon.
“The property’s location just off Karangahape Rd is a prime attraction for those seeking to truly embrace the city’s cultural scene,” he added.
“The apartments offer a cost-effective living alternative to the bigger residences seen along the Karangahape Rd ridgeline. As a dead-end street predominantly tenanted by small commercial tenants operating along 9-to-5 formats, there is minimal traffic flow outside the address, which gives its residents a degree of calm among the hustle and bustle of its surrounding environment.
“The nine separate unit titles are being sold as one entity, giving any new owner the opportunity of retaining the investment intact or selling off any number of the units individually in the future.
“Alternatively, the property could also appeal to social housing providers looking for a location that delivers easy access to the neighbourhood retail amenities along Karangahape Rd just a few hundred metres away, along with the availability of public transport.”
Harwood said that with domestic tourism once again thriving in Auckland following a recovery from Covid-19 travel restrictions, there was also the option for a new owner to convert the units into short-term accommodation.
Sitting on 355sq m of freehold land, the location is zoned Business–City Centre under the Auckland Council plan. The land use classification allows for potential intense development of the site.
“The city centre zoning plays a pivotal role in Auckland’s future urban evolution, ensuring the city centre remains an international hub for business, learning, entertainment, culture and inner-city urban living. To maintain and enhance the vibrancy of the city centre, the zone permits a wide range of activities,” he said.
“The zoning underpins the ability to create buildings maximising height and floor areas, while simultaneously protecting special character areas, sunlight flow to public spaces, along with views of the city’s volcanic cones and other landmarks.”