APARTMENTS 403, 401, 304,
THE HEARDS BUILDING,
168 PARNELL ROAD,
PARNELL.
KEY POINTS:
They just don't make them like this anymore. In the pick and mix of the 21st century's regulations, restrictions and economies of construction, there is no way the Heards sweets building could be replicated in Parnell.
The 1920s landmark Art Deco heritage building is solid concrete with walls as thick as a bunker's, and five storeys high - that's taller than anything that can now be built in Parnell.
Redevelopment was completed in December last year, with the top two floors given over to nine luxury apartments and mixed use of commercial and retail on the lower floors.
Athol McQuilkan, of the Medina Group responsible for the redevelopment, says: "The building certainly attracts a lot of attention. A lot of people remember it as the lolly factory."
He tells how Medina first considered housing more, smaller apartments in the building. But then the company decided to go with the best of the best, settling on nine apartments ranging in size from 157sq m to 307sq m (including balconies) because "the building deserved to be something special. It is a landmark in Auckland and deserves to be respected."
Only three of the apartments are still on the market. Two are penthouses and the other is a 209sq m apartment (with 61sq m balcony) on the third floor.
Barfoot and Thompson agent Louise Alexander says the prices have been considerably reduced to meet today's market.
While the prices may have decreased, the standard of finishing has remained high.
European fittings are used in kitchens and bathrooms. Each kitchen has a Bosch fridge freezer, wine fridge, microwave, oven and gas hobs. Interior design by Space Studio features aptly named candy colours - caramel, toffee and licorice. Floors are Tasmanian oak and velvet pile carpeting. And hard wiring is provided for music, digital television and broadband.
Good use is made of available light, with floor-to-ceiling glazing. And each apartment has a different layout. The third floor dwelling has a separate media room, and one penthouse's living space centres more on the kitchen area than the other. Sliding doors open out from the living space to balconies in the penthouses while the third floor apartment has bifold doors. There is centralised mood control for lighting, music, air conditioning and heating.
Depending on which side of the building apartments are on, the outlook is either out to the museum, across the Domain to the CBD, or over Parnell streets across the container port and harbour to Devonport.
All three apartments for sale have large balconies.
Louise and Athol say some people have bought in the building wanting a lock-and-leave city base while others are looking to downsize from larger family homes. "Yet these are still large enough to house families," adds Louise.
She says the bonus of buying in a heritage building is that it will always hold its value. Also, the apartments are freehold, so there is no ground rent to pay. Two to three car parks are provided for each apartment. Lobby and entrances are monitored and swipe cards are needed to access all areas.
