Diabetes NZ selling its Mt Eden centre

The 840sq m Nesfield House at 62-64 Valley Rd, Mt Eden, has parking for 11 cars and is in a highly sought-after area close to the CBD and the motorway. Tenders close at 2pm on Wednesday, November 13.

A century-old Mt Eden heritage building known as Nesfield House is being offered for sale by the Diabetes New Zealand Auckland branch.

Originally housing the Mt Eden Borough Council and fire station, the two-level character building at 62-64 Valley Rd was commissioned by the Mt Eden Borough Council in 1911 and designed by brother architects Harry and Norman Wade.

The building was enlarged by another third in 1940.

In the 1970s, the entire building was occupied by the Mt Eden Borough Council and, in February 1992, Diabetes NZ's Auckland branch acquired the property and renamed it Nesfield House.

"It has housed Diabetes NZ Auckland branch for over 50 years but changes to primary healthcare and a new direction for the organisation have resulted in the decision to sell the building," says Warwick Lewis, commercial and industrial agent with Barfoot & Thompson Commercial.

Lewis, with colleagues Jan Workman and Len Anthony, is selling the property by tender closing at 2pm on Wednesday, November 13, at the agency's offices at 50 Kitchener St.

Lewis says the main character area of the building includes some neoclassical details on the first floor, which originally served as council chambers and committee rooms, while the adjoining building was occupied by the Mt Eden firebrigade.

The Heritage B building is zoned Residential 6 with its current use based on resource consent issued in 1992 for community welfare service.

The 840sq m building, on a 1030sq m freehold site, comprises a ground floor of 420sq m and a first floor of about the same size. The property has parking for 11 vehicles on site.

"A floor-to-ceiling height of 2.9 to three metres provides great natural light and a feeling of spaciousness," Workman says. "The property is very well located on the corner intersection of Charlton Ave, Sherbourne Rd and Valley Rd which is the main link between the city arterial routes of Mt Eden Rd and Dominion Rd.

"The main Mt Eden commercial centre is only half a kilometre away up Valley Rd offering a range of retail activities and there is easy access to the Auckland CBD - 5km to the north via Mt Eden Rd and Symonds St."

Workman says the immediate area surrounding the property is character residential housing and is highly sought after because it is close to the CBD and the motorway system.

"The school zoning is double grammar zone with some of the local schools including Epsom Girls Grammar, Auckland Grammar School, Diocesan School for Girls and Mt Eden Normal Primary. Just down the road is the Mt Eden swimming pool."

Anthony says the ground floor of Nesfield House is occupied by the Diabetes NZ Auckland branch but will be vacated on settlement subject to negotiation.

"The first floor houses a variety of tenants with four areas currently unoccupied. The current annual income is $48,019.66 net plus GST from mostly monthly tenancies."

Anthony says the building has a Residential 6 zoning with resource consent for the Auckland Diabetic Society to use the building for a community welfare service (medical/healthcare).

"However, the zoning under the proposed Unitary Plan is mixed housing suburban."

colliers co nz/22018