Property Report: NXN plans bang on target for build start

An example of an interior layout of a NXN apartment. Illustration / supplied

Work is about to start on Kingsland's first major apartment development to be built in a decade, which is already 60 per cent sold.

NXN (pronounced Nixon) will consist of 73 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and five four-bedroom terraced houses at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac next to Nixon Park.

Senior development manager with developer Templeton, Matt Wickham, has just left a meeting with builders Dominion Constructors.

Matt says: "We've had resource consent, we're funded and we're bang on programme to start work in October."

NXN will have no neighbours on three sides, bordering Nixon Park to the north, Bond St to the east and fronting onto Kingsland Tce to the South. Kingsland Tce leads to a courtyard plaza offering direct access to 22 apartments and provides access to the stand-alone cluster of five four-bedroom terrace houses.

NXN's dwellings have been designed to slot into sloping land on the north-facing site next to the park which looks out to Arch Hill Reserve and Grey Lynn Ridge. This layout was conceived to make the homes feel more like a series of boutique developments.

It means a number of apartments across different levels will have direct access to outdoor areas in the form of courtyard gardens. The balance of apartments will have balconies wide enough for entertaining, divided by walls from neighbours for privacy.

Principal architect Graham Crust from Beca Architects says: "We wanted to create an intimate experience for residents -- it won't feel like a bigger building."

Matt, who's a big fan of Kingsland and lives around here, believes the neighbourhood's special feeling is part of the reason it has experienced such good sales levels.

He says: "There's a fantastic, young and eclectic vibe to Kingsland." As well as having the park and Kingsland's cafes, bars, restaurants and shops on its doorstep, the development is only a few minute's walk from the train station and handy to Eden Park.

Matt says purchasers to date have predominantly been owner-occupiers who've done their homework and recognised the apartments' pricing combined with location, generous sizing and well thought out design plans stack up favourably. One-bedrooms offering manageably priced entry into the sought-after neighbourhood have sold particularly well.

Matt says: "Another thing that has been selling really well is anything with a private courtyard. People love the fact that the private courtyard opens out onto the park."

Parking spaces and storage facilities are available to purchase with car-parks priced at $60,000 for a single and $90,000 for tandem. However, the developers are offering a limited number of two-bedroom apartments with one car park for $895,000.

All two- and three-bedroom apartments have two bathrooms. In most cases there is a walk-in wardrobe separating the en suite from the master bedroom. Kitchens will feature Smeg appliances and bathrooms will have porcelain-tiled floors and vanity units.

Those considering purchasing one of the eight boutique penthouse apartments have been impressed by them having private lifts and lobbies.

Buyers, who get to choose from light or dark colour palettes, have included young professionals, first-time apartment buyers, empty nesters and those wanting a city pad.

Templeton is a bespoke developer behind projects such as Beaumont Quarter and the Viaduct's Sebel Hotel, as well as the restoration of Mt Eden's former mayoral chamber and fire station into apartments.

Construction of NXN is scheduled to be completed around mid-2018, and prices start at $539,000.