CONTACT:
Ryan Bridgman, Ray White, 021 025 722 94; Mitch Agnew, 021 445 962.
AUCTION:
June 18.
Cameron Crawford and Natalie Poland say a lot changed in the real estate scene in their nine years away from Auckland. Prices for one thing. But also the growing number of apartments.
Cameron and Natalie had always lived in Freemans Bay and Ponsonby before moving to Dunedin where Cameron worked in television and Natalie was an art curator. Cameron had bought his first house in Auckland at age 26 but now, as a family of four with children (Hugo, 8, and Willa, 2) they decided an apartment was a good way to get a foot back in the Auckland property market after returning six months ago.
Cameron says time has changed many things. He has swapped owning dogs for being a father, villa living for an apartment lifestyle. The face of the city has changed but the couple are enjoying falling back in love with Auckland, rediscovering old haunts including favourite eating places.
Buying into The Chatham apartments building, next to Pitt St's Methodist Church and once a hotel, they enjoy the best of both worlds ... a new building with a historic facade. And the couple appreciate the quality build and spaciousness.
"It is nice having the heritage facade; it gives it more personality," says Natalie.
The 48 boutique one-bedroom and two-bedroom Chatham units are occupied predominantly by owners -- a mix of young professionals and families.
Cameron and Natalie's apartment is on the fifth of eight levels, facing northwest on the corner closest to K Rd. The building has two lifts and internal light wells which bring in natural light to the back of the apartment where the bedrooms are.
As you come into the family's apartment you have the laundry cupboard on the right in the hallway, the master bedroom next, then turning left you find the bathroom and second bedroom and then the open-plan lounge and kitchen with the stacking, sliding glass doors to the balcony.
Cameron and Natalie have painted the apartment, re-carpeted and added new kitchen appliances. Out on the spacious deck they have added vertical wall detail of a faux climbing ficus.
Image 1 of 3: Enjoy the best of both worlds, a quality new build with the personality of a heritage facade
They have noticed the rise of apartment building in the inner city. "You have Union Green and Western Park, and a lot of apartments in refurbished old buildings," says Natalie.
"Our outlook is fantastic because the buildings around here are lower, and we are next to the church next door. So no one can build us out.
"We can see Mt Albert, the Waitakeres, K Rd, the harbour, Ponsonby Rd and the trees of Freemans Bay. And we get the afternoon sun," she says.
"There are lots of parks around. Western Park is lovely and has a revamped playground. Sculptures that kids can climb on, birds and hedgehogs.
"And the galleries are coming to the K Rd area from Newmarket: Michael Lett, Ivan Anthony, Anna Mills and Artspace. Being in arts I am passionate about that."
On weekdays Cameron and Natalie have a routine where they drop Hugo off to school in Freemans Bay and then have a coffee with Willa before starting on the rest of the day's agenda.
They have a car park in the building but they tend to walk to work and the parks or use buses. Natalie points out the bus stop in front of the church and the planned city rail link station across the road from the apartment.
The couple are selling their apartment now as they have sold their Dunedin home, which allows them to buy something larger for their family.
