Tourism House in Napier could now be used to actually house tourists, if suggestions to turn it into new boutique hotel and hospitality hub go ahead.
The three-storey Tourism House building at 60–84 Dickens Street, which was formerly the regional tourism operations headquarters in the 1990s, and also once housed Napier's central city bus depot, has been put up for sale.
The 2220 square metre building sitting on 1784 square metres of freehold land is being jointly marketed for sale by deadline treaty through Bayleys Napier and Bayleys Auckland, with offers closing at 4pm on August 2.
Concept drawings of what Tourism House redevelopment might look like. Image / Supplied
Bayleys salespeople Sam MacDonald and Paul Dixon said any new owner of the premises would most likely completely remodel the building into a more efficient use of the available floor plate.
"There has already been feedback from one developer that the property could be totally reformatted – with the creation of a multi-venue hospitality hub at street level, with either residential apartments or a boutique apartment-style hotel on the upper levels," MacDonald said.
"The 'laneway' style design of the ground floor area comprises a walk-through atrium leading off Dickens St onto a European-style al-fresco cobblestone courtyard space with raised gardens which is accessible from Station St. That area is owned by the Napier City Council, which very much has a pro-business approach to seeing economic activity thriving in the CBD.
"These design features could form the 'spine' of a new food and beverage-themed precinct in the heart of the city.
"Meanwhile, the upper floor plates are in an open-plan format and both have high stud heights – amply suitable for conversion into either apartments or an all-suite hotel, which would automatically piggy-back off the hospitality hub below.
"The upper level floor space also has several balconies facing onto Dickens St, and these would again point toward the creation of decked outdoor areas for accommodation."
Architectural concept plans for redevelopment of the property into either a boutique studio suite hotel or apartment complex had already been drafted up, MacDonald said.
Dixon said substantial holding income was being generated through short-term tenancies on the site, and two vacant street-level tenancies on Dickens St could be let to short-term pop-up-style retail outlets.
Concept design for a potential change for Tourism House. Image / Supplied
"Subject to tenant negotiations, this revenue stream should continue while the necessary building designs are drafted up and resource consents applied for."
Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said new developments in the CBD were welcome.
"The development of areas within the CBD to ensure the city remains a vibrant, busy place is critical. There has been some incredible development in recent years by both the council and the private sector, and new developments are very welcome."
Venture Hawke's Bay (which was responsible for tourism in the 2000s) was housed in Tourism House alongside Napier Tourism Services (part of NCC) and other regional entities. When it was disestablished the various entities moved to other prime premises.
What's tourism worth?
- For the last 12 months to May, 2018, tourist spent a record $638m, figures from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment show.
- This year was the a fifth year in a row that the year to May achieved a record spending, following a 5 per cent rise on the $607m spent in 2017.
-Of that spending, Napier attracted $343m, Hastings accounted for $241m with another $35m spend in CHB and $18m in Wairoa.
