304/8 Middleton Road, Remuera. Photo / Supplied
By Donna McIntyre
Moving into an apartment in Newmarket wasn't too much of an adjustment for Anne Fenwick.
For the former journalist, it meant just moving down the road a little from her Remuera home.
And the beautiful gardens and harbour views at the Broadway Park residential enclave felt familiar, too.
Anne, who has now moved out of the apartment and into residential care, felt right at home here, says her son, Mark.
She bought the spacious level three-apartment in the Ascot apartments building at Broadway Park in 2000.
"It was attractive because it was in the area where Anne had lived for 30 years prior. And this was just down the road," Mark says. "She had lived up on Remuera Rd, near Market Rd, so it had a similar sort of aspect with the views out to Rangitoto and the Waitemata.
"Number 8 Middleton Rd is up the top, about 100m down from Remuera Rd; so, she was close to the community where she was deeply connected. She had been a journalist from the late 1950s, she worked for the Auckland Star, so she had a terrific network. And she was keen to keep those networks, she was a terrifically social person."
There was an appealing village aspect of living in the complex, plus it is close to Newmarket.
Mark says the apartment's northerly aspect means it is light and sun-filled.
"That gave her the opportunity to decorate it and show off some of her collection of paintings and antiques.
"She appreciated the apartment's layout, the space and the environment, outside and inside.
"It gave her the option to display those things, a bit of room to entertain and a bit of room for us."
Anne's three children plus grandchildren would often visit her at the apartment, as well as meeting there for family events.
"And with Broadway Park's pool and the tennis court, her energetic grandsons got to run around and then were suitably calm and orderly when it came time to sit with grandma."
The 154sq m apartment has three bedrooms, open-plan living with the lounge opening to a tiled deck.
The master bedroom with en suite also has a smaller balcony and looks out to Hobson Bay, Rangitoto and the Waitemata harbour.
There is underfloor heating in the kitchen and bathrooms. A family area and laundry are close to the kitchen
The gardens of the complex are landscaped with fountain features and pathways that lead to Newmarket and the train station.
As well as the pool and tennis courts that Anne's grandchildren enjoyed, there is a lap pool, spa, sauna and gym.
Anne's apartment sale has two car parks in the basement plus a storage area. There is also guest parking.
There is a very active residents' group," says Mark. "It not only is useful when there are things to be addressed by the owners, but also it is social. They are a good group who get together regularly."
The mortgage is just the start of it.