Youth trust in search of a new home

Established charity wants to lease bigger premises on fringes of CBD to house and train young Kiwis

A charitable trust aimed at assisting young New Zealanders to further their education and career prospects is on the lookout for new premises on the fringes of the Auckland CBD.

Rob Cross and Ben Wallace of Bayleys Auckland say that for commercial reasons the organisation wishes to remain anonymous at present, although it was very clear on the location it was seeking.

"The registered charity has 75 years of history, but with a growing demand for its services, the organisation is now looking for bigger premises to move its operation," Cross says. "The charity is working with us to source potential premises - either an existing commercial accommodation provider business or as a purpose-built building.

"The Christian-based charity has in recent times taken an active interest in developing the educational and trade apprenticeship teaching opportunities for young New Zealanders.

"Inclusive of that is a tutoring and mentoring programme which has seen many of the charity's former teenage recipients go on to become pillars in their communities as well as corporate leaders," says Cross.

"However, as the organisation's breadth of services has grown, it has consequently outgrown its existing premises which can't be expanded any further and is therefore looking to move into a new location."

Cross and Wallace say the specific "squarish" search zone identified by their client spans from the base of Queen St, west to Kingsland, south to One Tree Hill, east to Orakei Basin, then looping back along the waterfront to the passenger wharves.

"While the location is quite defined, the building specification is much broader," says Cross. "Potential sites include existing motel or hotel operations, industrial or commercial buildings which have zoning capability to be converted into accommodation blocks, a hostel-type environment, or a large residential dwelling or block of flats that could be developed to encompass a commercial accommodation operation."

Wallace says the room configurations being sought include a mix of single- and shared-occupancy units.

Ensuites are a possibility, although the client would also look at shared bathroom amenities. Food service operations and dining would be undertaken in a communal space, as would any leisure activities. Study rooms or library-style space would be an advantage to enable lodge residents to study during their stays.

"The tenant is looking to take up a long-term lease with the successful owner/developer, and has the funding network to support that. Our client has indicated they would look at an initial lease term of 10 years, with further rights of renewal over a similar term," Wallace says.

"Obviously with that degree of tenant commitment, for an owner or developer the incentive to invest in converting or expanding premises is substantial. The client is looking to move into any new premises as early as the beginning of next year."

He says Bayleys is targeting potential building and business owners in the client's preferred location zone and aims to present a shortlist of options by the end of September.