New apartments fill gap in local market

The building that now dominates the corner of Bank and Cameron streets is half-occupied and eagerly awaiting more tenants.

From being the kid on family holidays who was most excited to see the hotel room, to the franchisee of a $9.5 million development.

Whangarei born and bred Matthew Davidson, 26, is the on-site owner of the new Quest apartment block in Whangarei CBD which officially opened on Friday.

Mr Davidson said the 34 apartments "filled a gap" in Whangarei with half the units, going for between $196,000 and $408,000, already sold.

Hotelier Matthew Davidson, 26, says his complex "fills a gap" in the accommodation market.

Mayor Sheryl Mai, on opening the complex, said it was good to see young people "coming home" to invest in the district.

Mr Davidson was educated at Pompallier Catholic College before attending hotel management school in Switzerland.

The new complex includes studio, one-bed and two-bed serviced apartments, all with en-suite. It was expected there would be an approximate 70/30 split between long-term residents and hotel-style accommodation, Mr Davidson said.

The Coffee Club franchise was to set up shop on the ground floor of Quest, with six other retail units to be tenanted.

The interior of the Quest featured large windows, high ceilings and airy spaces. Some features of the original building, including several pillars, had been preserved.

Local firm Arco Group managed the construction, which involved gutting the original building, keeping the facade and adding two new floors and carparks underneath.