Old world charmer in the city

9/8 Parliament Street. Photo/Supplied

8/9 PARLIAMENT ST, AUCKLAND CITY

1

1

0*

SIZE: 47sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $500,000 to $600,000.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-1.30pm or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: citysales.co.nz #9206

BODY CORP: $4592pa.

CONTACT: Gabrielle Hoffman, City Sales, 021 0216 6611.

*No garage but residents can apply to council and pay approx. $140pa to park on Parliament St.

It wasn't just the character apartment that stole a piece of Kyle Kissin's heart nine years ago. The deal-clincher was the 200sq m rooftop garden.

"I saw the apartment and then its balcony and thought that was pretty incredible, and it's central, and then I walked up to the roof and that sold me.

"I had not seen anything like it anywhere in Auckland and for the last few years I have seen a lot of city rooftops working as a film location scout ... but there is something about being near Albert Park, the High Court and the Domain and you look the other way to Devonport.

"During summer you go up there and have your breakfast and your coffee, and you get home and have your beer or your wine up there, it's like an oasis in the middle of the city."

Kyle had been flatting but was tired of living with other people so in 2005 he started looking at what apartments were on the market.

"I looked at a lot of apartments ... old warehouses turned into apartments and new builds that were in my price range, which were about 100 grand less than I paid for this.

"Some were badly finished, some had veneer floors instead of real wood and then I walked in here, it was a nice sunny day and this apartment had character, it had soul.

"I went way over what I intended spending, but it's always going to maintain its value."

Pluses were being on the middle level, north-facing and so having sunlight most of the day, on a corner and beneath a canopy of mature trees alongside the shared courtyard.

"It's private and you get nice views through the trees and there is a small sea view through a couple of buildings. I also found it was easy to heat in the winter, and it stays cool in the summer."

Plus he has all of Auckland as his playground -- Albert Park, the Domain and the university grounds are nearby, and cafes and nightclubs are all within easy walking distance.

As you come in Kyle's front door, a tight right turn leads to the kitchen and then bedroom and en suite. A little further from the front door is the lounge, its windows facing the tree canopy, and the corner balcony.

The kitchen window also opens to this balcony where Kyle has a herb garden. "When you are entertaining, you have the people out on the balcony and you serve them through the kitchen window. It is just fantastic."

Image 1 of 4: A pad with traditional style ... and a garden hidden away on the roof

He likes the way his apartment has retained the character of 1915 when Middle Courtville was built, especially in the kitchen with its movable library ladder to access storage. There's a fridge, oven and dryer and Kyle has installed a new terrazzo-style kitchen bench top and modern mixer tap.

He says there are about 13 apartments. "There is no one really old living there and no one super young. A good blend of all sorts."

He is selling because he wants to spend more time out of Auckland, possibly running his own business.