Law of attraction

55/66 Emily Place, Auckland City. Photo / Supplied

32/66 EMILY PLACE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL

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SIZE: 32sq m approx.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $235,000. Body corp $4208.33 (approx) pa (less 10 per cent discount for prompt payment).

INSPECT: Sat/Sun noon-1pm.

ON THE WEB: https://www.bayleys.co.nz/Listing/Auckland/Auckland/Auckland-Central/1652067

CONTACT: Diane Jackson, 021 315 339; Julie Prince, 021 894 071, Bayleys.

AUCTION: 2pm, Wed 1 March (unless sold prior).

The character details are what Murray Ford particularly likes about the freehold apartments in The Brooklyn building at Emily Place, built almost a century ago.

So much so, that when he and his wife were living here, they bought another apartment, a one-bedroom studio, to rent out.

"Having had an apartment here from 2005, we knew it is one of Auckland's oldest buildings. It is well maintained and well run," says Murray.

"It is close to the university and the legal precinct. The street is quiet with minimal through-traffic and a park on one side, and the building has a high proportion of owner-occupiers. There is a nice kind of vibe.

"We lived downstairs in a two-bedroom apartment and we bought the studio when it came on the market in October 2012.

"We were young and married without a child; we used to be able to enjoy all the perks of the Britomart area, the bars and restaurants.

"We liked that we could live a near car-free life in the city. It was a 5-minute, if that, walk to the Countdown supermarket, and the restaurants and bars."

The studio apartment they bought just over four years ago is on the third level, on the north-north-west side. "The views from the windows are above the building opposite and you can see a bit of the skyline, and a bit of the park," says Murray. "The apartment has a nice amount of light; it gets the afternoon sun."

He says the street frontage is attractive with its exposed bricks. "It had that New York style, with the garden at the front and it had a lawn, bench and barbecue area at the back.
"It is a solid building, it has obviously stood the test of time."

The residents are an eclectic mix.

"People in the legal professions, writers, musicians.

"I always had the impression there was a high proportion of people involved in the legal industry who lived or kept an apartment in the building."

His apartment has the bathroom on the right as you come in, with a bath and shower over the bath. The kitchen is separated from the lounge/bedroom by a server.

"The apartment sits somewhere between a studio and a one-bedroom. I have always referred to it as a studio, as the bedroom is not separate to the lounge, although it was at one point.

There is no car park but residents can apply for a permit to park on the street.

Now Murray and his wife are selling the apartment as they plan to buy a house.

"We don't want to be over-exposed to property so we are getting our ducks in a row and looking to sell before we jump in and buy a house."