Community spirit alive in Grey Lynn

6 Fisherston St, Grey Lynn. Photo / Geoff Dale

6 FISHERSTON ST GREY LYNN

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SIZE: Land 500sq m, house 156sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $880,000, with properties in the area selling above CV. Auction February 10 at noon on site.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 11.30-12.30pm.

ON THE WEB: www.uprealty.co.nz/ UPH10545

SCHOOL ZONES: Grey Lynn Primary School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Girls' Grammar.

CONTACT: Wayne Bulog, UP Realty, ph 021 272 3557.

FEATURES: Meticulously renovated transitional bungalow in quiet tree-lined cul-de-sac off Richmond Rd. Features generous airy open-plan living room/ kitchen/dining room opening to covered back terrace, landscaped garden and off-street garage with workshop.

When house shopping, most people have a list of what they are looking for - location, school zones, size, style and the number of garages. Not many start purely with a list of the characteristics and personality of the sort of community they would like to live in, and only then narrow it down to the house itself.

But when lawyers Martin and Paula moved to Auckland after seven years in London, they were looking for a neighbourhood that replicated the cosmopolitan feel of their London communities of Maida Vale and West Hampstead. "Neither of us had any association with living in Auckland, we'd been in Wellington and then London," explains Martin. "Usual story, we'd come home to New Zealand after we'd had our baby and we wanted to be close to extended family, Paula's family and our support networks here in Auckland. We'd always lived in inner-city areas with diversity and so we were looking for that in Auckland."

"We looked at parks and schools and the shopping areas, the mix of people," adds Paula. "When we found this house right in Grey Lynn but with proximity to Ponsonby shops, it was perfect. Then we kept finding other things."

For example, the couple were a bit puzzled why the agent had kept talking about how brilliant it was being in a no-exit street. It wasn't until their girls, now aged 12 and 8, were old enough to play outside that they realised what a bonus it was. Paula's office overlooks the tree-lined street so she can see kids coming and going, and the family have enjoyed that old-fashioned neighbourliness as more and more young families moved into the street.

The family has also become heavily involved in the revitalised school community created around Grey Lynn school, but extending into the nearby church grounds and parks, and know that they'll miss the warm networks they and the girls have formed. But Sophie is headed off to school across town, and Scarlett will follow, so the family have made the decision to move closer to their new school. They'll also miss the wonderful West Lynn shops around the corner in Richmond Rd, where great restaurants and cafes, a good bookstore and fashion stores have joined the butcher and whole foods store.

And the house? Well, naturally, it too has the heart the young family was looking for. Paula laughs that the only thing they had to do to the transitional villa when they bought it from an America's Cup sailor was lower the height of the clothes rail. Well, actually, they did a little more, fitting wardrobes in each of the three bedrooms, painting and redecorating. But the renovation was so well done that they didn't need to do anything to the generous country kitchen in French blues and woods - the servery is a magnet for visitors, the storage is well planned and the appliances are high quality.

An extra high stud makes the space airy in summer, particularly when the bifolds are pulled back to the large covered deck and lawn, and people can drift between the dining area and the lounge. The master bedroom has French doors to a balcony overlooking neighbourhood trees. The bathroom, with the laundry and storage, has a vintage clawfoot bath.

Martin and Paula are off to create a new community, leaving a great space for the next family to fill.