Historic harbour buildings go on sale

By BERNARD ORSMAN

A collection of 19th and early 20th-century merchant, shipping and trading buildings at Auckland's Britomart are being put on the market to revitalise the rundown neighbourhood.

The 17 historic buildings, in various states of disrepair, form the skeleton of a new waterfront "village" for up to 1000 apartment dwellers and 2000 office workers, based around the $211 million Britomart transport project.

The Auckland City Council, which owns the buildings, is asking developers to come up with plans for the buildings by December 18. It plans to find one or more buyers by July next year, when the Britomart transport interchange opens.

The buildings include the 1903 wharf police station, the old Kiwi Tavern, the Northern Steamship Building, the old Harbour Board workshops and one of the few remaining interwar purpose-built service stations in Custom St East. The top three floors of the old Chief Post Office - the entrance to the underground Britomart railway station - are also up for lease.

The council is also offering 50-year leases on six development sites inside the 3.5ha Britomart precinct. The buildings and development sites cover about 84,000sq m with extra space for about 710 car parks. They are worth about $27 million, but are expected to sell for less.

Greg Boyden, of the architectural firm Jasmax, which is designing the Britomart project, said the historic buildings were integral to creating a similar feel to High St in the city.

"This is a great opportunity to revitalise this part of the city that has been lying dormant for the past five to seven years."


* The Auckland City Council and Downer Construction are holding the first public construction visit to Britomart on Sunday. Free passes are available from the Auckland City Council Civic Building or the Britomart Transport Display Centre at 122 Quay St.

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/marine