Albany

By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

Albany was formerly a farming community with a quaint village, but over the last five to 10 years has metamorphosed into a thriving residential hub showcasing the best in modern architecture and a new retail centre.

This rapid development has witnessed the arrival of new schools as well as the rapid expansion and growing pre-eminence of Massey University's Albany campus. Recently, light commercial industry and sports facilities have appeared on what was formerly lush farm land and lifestyle blocks.

With the new motorway, Albany is no longer the thoroughfare to Northland, and because of this the area has further developed its own identity.

There is a wide mix of residents residing in the suburb - from all age groups and ethnicities, the community has grown with its new inhabitants and will benefit from the development of a hotel, hospital, cinemas, completion of the park and a shopping mall. Albany appeals to couples with young families, childless professionals and single people.

The area is certainly not starved of retail facilities when you consider the Albany Mega Centre - which attracts shoppers from far afield. Albany is also close to the Glenfield shopping centre and Wairau Park.

There are also great cafes, restaurants and shops at Rosedale Rd and the new shopping area off Oteha Valley Rd.

Albany more than adequately caters for the sport enthusiast and there is much more than the nationally famous North Harbour Stadium - which has been home to cricket, rugby, rugby league and soccer in recent years. There is golf at the North Harbour Golf Course, tennis at the Tennis Centre and numerous gyms. The North Harbour Stadium is also used for other events on the more cultural side, which have included operas and other musical concerts.

One reason Albany has grown so fast in recent years is because Massey University has located a satellite campus there. Students from other parts of the North Shore - and the country - as well as international students who want to live close to campus choose Albany.

For those who enjoy weekend markets, these happen weekly in the village, where there is also a small art gallery and other boutique shops. Kells Park, which is the perfect destination to enjoy a sunny weekend, is also popular with residents. The local schools - both public and private - are also of high quality.

Apartments will generally sell for over $160,000 depending on size and location. A three- to four-bedroom home will normally go for between $400,000 to $450,000 and could possibly reach around the $1 million mark - again, depending on section size and location. There are still lifestyle blocks surrounding Albany, and higher quality homes on these sections might reach $2 million.

Once considered an outer Auckland suburb, Albany has a life of its own but is still very much a part of the city. Commuters love living there because of the easy access to the motorway and the advantage of being close to the countryside.