Sitting unobtrusively back from the road at 73 Khyber Pass, next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, this 1930s block of apartments retains a quaintness of a past era despite its address in a busy part of the city.
The two-storey freehold purpose-built block of four units -- each with a similar layout of two bedrooms, living room, conservatory, bathroom and kitchen -- have been in the same ownership for 10 years or so.
Ann Chu and Simon Liu bought the whole block a decade ago, says their son Charles Liu.
"My dad has always been into property and he likes to keep an eye on what the market is doing.
"He talked about what a great place this was and he bought it."
The flats have been rented out during that decade, but Charles, his sister and mother have also lived here. During his time here, Charles particularly enjoyed the eclectic collection of cafes and restaurants nearby in Symonds St, and being so close to Mt Eden village and Newmarket.
"I rented it out first in my last year at Auckland Grammar and then when I was at university," he says. "It was just 30 minutes to the university, 20 to Newmarket.
"I liked that they are quiet, even though they are near the road. And they are also spacious.
"The church next door is usually quiet at night and there is a commercial property on the other side." Charles says tenancies tend to be long term.
"My dad has kept the rent much the same as when they moved in, I think, about $400 a week.
"I think people like that the rent is cheap and it's such a nice location. They tend to be rented to young families and young professionals.
"When my parents bought here there weren't that many apartment developments and Dad didn't have any trouble finding tenants because there weren't many places to rent near Grafton and Newmarket."
73 Khyber Pass, Grafton.
The apartments share a common hallway entrance through blue double entrance doors with curved window detailing. Two apartments are on the ground level and then solid red stairs lead to the others on the second level, past the wide hallway where flaking paint somehow adds to the charm of the building. The apartments have wooden floors, high studs and metal-framed multi-paned windows allowing lots of natural light into the living spaces and bedrooms. The rooms are spacious, particularly the main bedroom and living area. Views are towards Mt Eden, over the Khyber Pass area and to the city.
Each apartment is allocated one of the four car parks and there is a common lockup garage/workshop that can be used as a shared laundry, says Charles.
He says his parents are selling because they think it is time to move on.
"I have my own place, my sister is travelling, my mum goes back and forth to China, and Dad is still working. It's like everyone is leaving the nest."
He thinks the apartments will appeal to someone wanting a bed and breakfast in the inner city or a landlord who wants to rent out the apartments.
