Urban appeal by the park

Apartment 2G/220 Victoria Street West. Beaumont building.

2G, BEAUMONT, 220 VICTORIA ST WEST, AUCKLAND CITY

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SIZE: Floor space 156sq m

PRICE INDICATION: Apartment 2I sold in September for $800,000. 2I was a two-bedroom, 114sq m with a tandem car park. Auction 12.30pm, October 30. Body corp fees: $9739.16 pa.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun noon-12.30pm.

ON THE WEB: rwcityapartments.co.nz/CTA25360

CONTACT: Daniel Horrobin, Ray White, ph 021 595 976, Damian Piggin, ph 021 828 583.

FEATURES: Use of swimming and spa pools.

The appearance of Lorna Wilson's apartment in the Beaumont is as immaculate as its owner.

For this smartly attired lady is part of an older generation that takes pride in their appearance, and she is well aware first appearances do count, especially when your apartment is on the market.

Lorna bought the north-facing, first-level apartment 14 years ago. She and husband Barry had owned another apartment at Westminster Court in Parliament St, close to their workplaces. They also had a beach home at Waiwera.

When Barry died, Lorna decided to sell both properties and look for just one address to call home. "I didn't want a high-rise apartment; they didn't appeal."

But this sunny Beaumont apartment did stand out when she saw it advertised in the Herald, especially its position across the road from the green space of Victoria Park.

"I came into this apartment and it just felt good.

I felt at home," recalls Lorna. "And it is lovely to look out the windows across to the park's trees."

There had been just one other owner of the apartment, part of the Leuschke Group-designed Beaumont building completed around 1997. And Lorna was thrilled to have three bedrooms as it meant family members could stay and she could use the third bedroom as her office.

The apartment has the wide hallway as you enter, two bedrooms are on the left, then

a bathroom, the main bedroom and en suite. All the bedrooms have large wardrobes and wide, shuttered windows looking out to Franklin Rd.

Turning right takes you into the open-plan kitchen, living and dining. Stacking, sliding glass doors open to the balcony where Lorna has

a barbecue, table, chairs and potted plants. She can see the Sky Tower from here.

The former academic registrar of Auckland University has enjoyed her 14 years living in this safe building, mixing with other like-minded residents and making the most of the Link buses, with a bus stop outside the Beaumont.

Image 1 of 2: Elegant, spacious, well-appointed - and in a fantastic location, too

Every week Lorna goes to Queen St to get her hair done; other favourite haunts are Ponsonby Rd and Newmarket, all on the Link routes, as is the hospital and the Vector Arena for shows.

She speaks highly of building managers Merv and Sue. "They deliver my mail and paper and they have even taken me to hospital when nobody else was available," says Lorna. But now Lorna is selling her beloved apartment to move to a retirement village. She will miss being so handy to the city, waterfront, the theatre and the operas she particularly enjoys.

She imagines her apartment will appeal to a broad range of buyers. "It could be a single person or a family as it has the three bedrooms. You have the balcony and it is close to the park, Wynyard Quarter and the supermarket next door."