"Lincoln Wines is one of the last remaining viticulture businesses there, but given the increases in land prices and rates along Lincoln Rd, and the development opportunities this site provides, the company has decided to sell this property."
Houlker says the site is zoned "Living Environment", with residential housing the permitted activity. "However, a zoning change under the proposed Unitary Plan would allow terraced housing and apartment development on the rear portion of the site running along Stephen Ave, with a Mixed Use zoning on the part of the property that has frontage onto Lincoln Rd."
He says the Mixed Use zone is designed to act as a transition between residential areas and city centre, metropolitan and town centre zones and provides for both residential and predominantly smaller-scale commercial and retail activity.
The proposed Terrace Housing & Apartment zoning, located around metropolitan, town and local centres, provides for the greatest density, height and scale of development of all residential zones that will be established under the Unitary Plan. Its purpose, through the efficient use of land and infrastructure, is to increase the supply of housing and ensure that residents have convenient access to services, employment, education facilities, retail and entertainment opportunities as well as public transport.
"The greater flexibility provided by the proposed zoning changes in the Unitary Plan provide the potential for more intensive development as well as opening up a wider range of opportunities for this high-profile, strongly located site," says Houlker.
Woods engineering, surveying and planning consultancy has drawn up concept plans and options for the development of the site.
It notes that while the Unitary Plan zoning provides for developments up to four levels high across the whole site, the amount of development possible will largely be determined by car parking.
"The options it is suggesting are ground floor retail with one or two levels of office above on the Lincoln Rd frontage and two to three storeys of terrace housing and apartments on the balance of the site," Bhana says.
He says the footprint of the existing buildings covers less than half the site with the balance comprising a yard and parking area and a substantial amount of additional "greenfields" land that contained the former vineyards. The property is mostly flat with some gently sloping contoured land.
Bhana says the retail outlet has recently been refurbished and the Langtons on Lincoln function centre near the property's Lincoln Rd entranceway opening out on to a landscaped garden setting, is a popular venue for weddings and other functions - catering for up to 200 people standing and 150 seated.
He says the vendor would be happy to negotiate a short-term lease back on the property while a new owner formulates plans and obtains the necessary consents for its redevelopment.
The Lincoln Wines company was established on the site in 1937 by pioneering winemaker Petar Fredatovich who moved to New Zealand in the 1920s with a vision of providing quality wine to meet the needs of early settlers.
His son Peter Dick Fredatovich worked with other producers to make West Auckland New Zealand's first major wine producing region and paved the way for the acceptance of table wines in New Zealand. The vineyards on the Lincoln Rd property were removed about 15 years ago.
While winemaking and bottling is still undertaken at the Lincoln Rd winery, most of Lincoln Wines' processing is now done in Hawkes Bay and Marlborough where the brand's grapes are grown.
For sale as part of the Total Property portfolio further along Lincoln Rd is a 2.6493ha development site in two titles that was owned by the Farac family and also used for viticulture.
Expressions of interest are being sought by Dave Stanley and Ben Bayley of Bayleys Manukau, and Mike Adams of Bayleys Auckland for the now bare land comprising a gently contoured site at 329 Lincoln Rd, near the intersection of Lincoln Rd and Central Park Drive. Stanley says the site is handily located at the northeastern end of Lincoln Rd, with excellent exposure to the Northwestern Motorway.
"It is the first time the property has been marketed for sale for 50 years and it provides developers, land bankers and owner-occupiers with a great opportunity to position themselves in a fast growing and vibrant area," he says.
Stanley says the property's Working Environment (Lincoln) zoning allows for a range of business activities and is likely to remain under the proposed Unitary Plan zoning.
