SCHOOL ZONES:
Royal Rd School, Massey High School.
CONTACT:
Karen Eppingstall, Bayleys, 021 797 893.
DEVELOPMENT AREA:
200 residential homes.
When George McWhirter bought his farm at what's now called Westgate, the area was miles from anywhere. Whoever would have thought that his prized land would one day be a short stroll to a thriving town centre?
A century later, the farm is being converted into family style living and the lucky new owners are going to be right in the thick of a thriving new community.
Pop McWhirter's descendants are behind the subdivision and have chosen to develop quality houses that families can call home. They wanted to do more than simply sell off subdivided sections, says grandson and developer John Long.
McWhirter's family will develop about 200 houses on the farm. The current release is for 13 homes, some of which are complete. They are being sold through Bayleys Westgate. Building of the next nine homes starts early next year.
The 13 homes are all four-bedroom, two-storey quality family homes. Future tranches of the farm development could include single-storey homes and a wider variety of sizes, says Long.
The current release has seven different layouts. Some have all four bedrooms upstairs. But a number have one bedroom with its own bathroom downstairs, meaning that it could be used to house an office, or even an elderly relative or older child. The homes, designed by architect Alan Shanahan, are built in a traditional style, but each looks slightly different from the street, adding character to the area. Buyers au fait with the Hobsonville Point development will feel at home here.
"This is a really well master-planned project employing the best architects and urban designers and the area is going to be a great place to live," says Long. The urban design is being done by Isthmus Group, which had a hand in the Hobsonville Point development and has won numerous awards for urban design projects.
The pulling power of McWhirter's farm isn't just the quality and size of the homes: constructed by Classic Builders, they come with a seven-year guarantee. They'll be in the ideal location at the edge of a new town centre. And if ever there was a well-connected centre, it's Westgate.
The Westgate Shopping Centre with all its shopping, cinemas, dining, and employment opportunities is five minutes' walk to the north. It's about to be rebuilt to include a new town square.
For those with young children, an entrance into Royal Rd Primary is 400m away to the south of the new homes in Bonny Crescent, which was named after one of Pop McWhirter's horses.
It's ideal for public transport users. Westgate Shopping Centre is a major transport hub for the northwest with bus routes heading into downtown Auckland, north east to Massey University and Albany and northwest to Kumeu/Huapai, and Helensville.
Image 1 of 4: Attractive houses in a well-planned neighbourhood are an astute first rung on property ladder
Westgate Drive is a car driver's paradise as well. From the door of the show home at 63 Westgate Drive it's 940m to the Royal Rd/Northwestern Motorway on-ramp in one direction, or 1.24km to the Westgate motorway interchange at the other. From Westgate, its non-stop motorway all the way to downtown Auckland, the North Shore, and -- when the Waterview Connection is complete -- Auckland Airport.
And for those who like to get away from it all, it's only 23 minutes' drive to Muriwai, says Bayleys agent Karen Eppingstall, who lives there. The area is also well known for its wineries with many to choose from.
There is more to come. Auckland Council is building a network of parks, waterways and beautifully landscaped stormwater ponds in the area, plus a 3500sq m library. There will be new playgrounds and a skate park.
