Glen Eden has been a suburb dominated by family houses and small scale housing projects, but new $65 million high-rise development Westlight is about to turn that characterisation on its head.
Joe McCambridge of MC2 Architects says: "This will be a completely new building typology for this area, as there are no other buildings anywhere near this height in Glen Eden."
Construction by developer the Ted Manson Foundation is well underway. It will include 10- and 11-storey towers and a landscaped podium with seating, barbecues and pergolas.
The foundation's community housing manager Sam Colgan says: "With the development standing head and shoulders above any other buildings in the area, the name Westlight is about celebrating the light and stunning views of West Auckland, the Waitakeres and the Auckland region.
"We consider the Glen Eden development as having the potential to be a local landmark and acting as an impetus to the regeneration of the Glen Eden town centre."
Westlight residences are now selling off the plans and will offer a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, plus a handful of terrace houses accompanied by commercial space at the base of the building.
Joe says: "The juxtaposed shape of the towers was devised to optimise the floor plans for views and sun while creating diagonal views in between and around the towers.
"This layout gives special volumetric qualities — letting the light and shade gradually shift around the facades, an effect which will be further emphasised by the cladding variations which reflect the light differently as one moves past the building."
Apartment views include those north over the Waikumete Reserve, east towards the city or west to the Waitakeres.
The development's exterior combines non-combustible aluminum cladding and concrete panels and will incorporate a huge back-lit flax motif referencing local vegetation.
All apartments will have covered, recessed balconies with a few having their own private podium-level patios.
Interiors will include 2.7m-high living areas, engineered stone bench-tops, Fisher & Paykel appliances and Grohe tapware.
Parking is available to purchase. Westlight has extended building warranties and maintenance guarantees with the foundation responsible for maintaining the exterior and common areas for 25 years. Body corporate rates are fixed for 25 years.
Glen Eden Primary School is 50m away and Glen Eden's town centre, main street and train station (a 40-minute ride from Britomart) are 100m away.
Westlight will be one of the first mixed tenure housing projects completed by the foundation, set up four years ago by Ted Manson, the head of property development company Mansons TCLM.
The foundation aims to provide more than 300 apartments for community housing by 2022 and also has central city and Avondale mixed tenure developments underway.
Westlight is offering 75 dwellings for people to buy on the open market, including some residences starting at $450,000.
The foundation will lease the remaining 95 dwellings to the Ministry of Social Development to be used as community housing.
Residents will have secure access to their own level and these community housing apartments will have their own entrance, will be located in designated levels of the towers and will have their tenancy managed by community housing provider Compass.
Westlight's display suite is now open, near the development on Glen Eden's main street.
The new dwellings are scheduled for completion in the last quarter of 2019.
Westlight at 6-8 Waikumete Rd, Glen Eden • Westlight at 6-8 Waikumete Rd, Glen Eden is scheduled for completion in late 2019. • Options: A) 1-bed, 1-bath apartments, 44-47sq m (+7sq m balcony) from $450,000. B) 2-bed, 1-bath apartments, 58-82sq m (+7-12sq m balcony) from $640,000. C) 2-bed, 2-bath apartments, 86sq m (+13sq m balcony) from $710,000. D) 1-bed, 1-bath terrace houses, 70sq m (+7sq m balcony) from $555,000. E) 2-bed, 1.5-bath terrace houses, 82-86sq m (+9-13sq m balcony) from $670,000. • Car parking: Available to buy at a discounted rate of $15,000 per space for limited time; storage lockers $3000 each. • Body corp: Approx $1500-$2782 a year. • Inspect: Display suite at 208 West Coast Rd, Mon-Thu 4.30-6.30pm; Sat/Sun 3-5pm, or call for an appointment. • Auction: Wed 14 Nov 1:30pm (unless sold prior). • Schools: Glen Eden School, Glen Eden Intermediate, Kelston Intermediate, Kelston Boys', Kelston Girls'. • Contact: Alan Hyslop, 027 435 9023; Robyn Rule, 021 055 3667, Barfoot & Thompson, westlightapartments.co.nz/
