KEY POINTS:
An Auckland developer who built the city's skinniest high-rise tower is planning a repeat in Wellington, despite running into financial trouble.
Peter Chevin has plans for a 22-level apartment block of studios in the capital.
He developed the Columbard corporate crash pad on Auckland's Wyndham St. The block is now branded Formule 1 Auckland and run by the French-headquartered Accor group.
Some units in the tower are just 16sq m, smaller than some double prison cells, but they have a double bed, kitchenette, bathroom, laundry and balcony.
Now Chevin wants to build a replica of the Auckland tower in Wellington.
He ran into problems developing the Columbard, an 18-storey building with 144 units.
Firms owned by Chevin, including Columbard Management, Chevin & Co Investments and Gridlock Ventures Trustee are in receivership or liquidation.
In a letter posted on the Companies Office website the liquidator for Gridlock Ventures Trustee, Rowan Chapman, said less than 20c in the dollar was available as a dividend to unsecured creditors.
Chevin said he was delighted with comments about his proposed development by a Wellington urban design website, wellurban.blogspot.com.
The website said Chevin had designed compact living spaces in Auckland which were something different.
Chevin said: "These guys are normally incredibly tough on developments. This is what can go right when buildings are properly managed. This is the power of a brand."
Chevin's company, Stonne Trust has applied for resource consent to build Columbard Wellington which would have 290 short-stay apartments at 101 Victoria St.