Grey Lynn character lays down the law
The enduring popularity of Auckland’s city fringe suburb of Grey Lynn as a commercial destination is illustrated by a character stand-alone villa on a prominent corner site that is now for sale.
Having previously missed an opportunity to buy this property, and unable to find another property to match it, the vendors waited more than 10 years for it to come back on the market then snapped it up.
After an empathetic and functional full refurbishment to suit the day-to-day needs of their boutique law firm, more space is now required for the growing business so 15 Surrey Crescent is up for tender through Phil Haydock and James Were of Bayleys Auckland Central, closing November 21, unless sold prior.
The circa-173sq m villa with carport and nine on-site carparks occupies a 708sq m freehold site, is zoned residential with existing commercial usage rights and will be sold with vacant possession.
It offers a mix of open-plan space and private office or meeting rooms, new bathrooms and kitchen amenities, abundant natural light and a north-facing deck area for staff or client entertaining.
With a seismic assessment rating of 75% NBS, Haydock says the property would suit add-value investors, residential or commercial owner-occupiers, and could provide a live-work solution for a small business owner.
Grey Lynn is a hotly-contested city fringe suburb with a good balance of commercial and residential property and an eclectic mix of design styles.
This classic villa has a commanding presence on the corner of Surrey Crescent and Browning St, and experience shows well-presented character space is particularly sought-after by occupiers in the broader Ponsonby-Grey Lynn area, which underpins the investment equation of the property.
Were says this style of space traditionally finds favour with specialist medical providers, beauty businesses, creatives, law firms, accounting practices and other professional services.
It has all the fundamentals for an innovative business looking to move away from a traditional office environment to a workplace with some soul, in a superb postcode, and with good carparking ratios, certainly not a given in many city fringe or central locations.
The property’s neutral colour scheme and timeless fixtures and fittings provide a professional office environment with homely touches.
Alternatively, if a buyer wished to revert the property to solely residential use, some internal reconfiguration could be required to reinstate some services, such as the kitchen which is currently located off the carport.
Over the past decade, Grey Lynn has evolved significantly, according to Haydock.
The suburb has undergone a spectacular transformation to become a modern, urban community where affluent families have renovated many of the old villas that dominate the area, and it is a favoured location among Auckland’s top developers. Grey Lynn has proven growth credentials, is well-connected transportwise and has high levels of amenity.