Plans for new tower on show in Hong Kong

A 30-level apartment tower is being planned near the 40-level Metropolis hotel/apartment tower in Auckland's central business district.

Rival property developers say they fear damaging shading, wind and view effects on Metropolis and the Northern Club, which has had a $1 million makeover.

Brian Mead's Westmark Group is marketing the proposed Chancery Residences & Hotel Suites in Hong Kong, offering large 60sq m apartments for $438,000 to $545,000.

The tower is earmarked to rise atop the existing Chancery Carpark, next to the upmarket, award-winning Chancery shopping centre.

But Mr Mead is yet to advertise the tower to New Zealanders, saying he is still at the early planning stages.

"It's just a vision right now. We thought we'd test the market, but I would not like to give you the impression it's going to happen," he said yesterday.

Mr Mead developed the Chancery shopping centre and carpark with Mark Lyon's Mission Corp.

Quarter-page advertisements in the Sunday Morning Post, a South China Morning Post publication, showed detailed designs and promised a new icon for Auckland.

"From time to time, the skylines of the leading cities of the world are enhanced by new iconic buildings," the advertisement states. "Auckland, New Zealand, is about to enjoy such an occasion."

Rosaline Lam and Victor Li of global real estate consultant Colliers International in Hong Kong are taking inquiries.

Ginn Lai, regional director of international properties at Colliers in Hong Kong, said the tower would be finished by early 2008.

Former Metropolis resident Graham Wall said the proposed tower would have a beneficial effect on the more established apartment block.

"Write that this new block will cast shadows on Metropolis and block its views, so that I can buy more Metropolis apartments," said Mr Wall.

Last month he sold his Metropolis unit 3401 on the 34th level for $1,825,000, but intends to return to Metropolis.

"This new block will have no effect on Metropolis whatsoever," he said. It would only encourage more people to consider high-rise apartment living.

John Duthie, Auckland City's general manager city development, said the CBD was zoned for high-rise and what could be built on the Metropolis site could be built elsewhere.

No applications had been received for the Chancery project, but the site was subject to height controls to protect against shading Albert Park.

Rival property developers who wanted to remain anonymous asked how the tower could be allowed, predicting it would ruin Metropolis' sea views, cast morning shadows on its prime northern face and speed up wind on residents' balconies.

The Chancery plans are among three high-rise projects to emerge this month. David Henderson's Kitchener Group is planning a 30-level office/apartment block alongside St Patrick's Square at the intersection of Albert and Swanson Sts.

A private company, Landcorp, is reported as planning a 40-level tower on the block bounded by the Fanshawe St/Customs St West intersection, behind the West Plaza building.

On offer

* One to three-bedroom penthouses.
* Units of 63sq m to 573sq m.
* No stamp duty or capital gains tax for Hong Kong buyers.
* Finished by spring 2008.