The subtly funky, rapidly evolving nature of Auckland’s uptown area helped influence Ray White husband-and-wife real estate agents Steve and Lisa Stone to buy their own sizeable apartment here five years ago.
Its size, style, handiness and position delivering fabulous views from the northwest corner of the tightly-held SKHY apartments saw them switch neighbourhoods after previously living in a Remuera Road apartment.
Steve says of their building very near the corner of Khyber Pass and Symonds Street: “If you go back a while historically the area around here wasn’t really known for anything. But that had changed by the time we moved here and has continued to change dramatically.”
Situated at the foot of Maungawhau, the uptown precinct comprises Eden Terrace, Newton and Grafton.
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Lisa says: “I just love this area because it’s a little bit funky while also being so convenient to everything. There are so many fantastic restaurants, bars and cafes around us and we can happily walk to K’Rd, Mt Eden, Newmarket or Ponsonby. I walk every morning either to the Domain or up Mt Eden.
“And because of our jobs we might head anywhere for work so it’s great having motorway access in every direction within about a five-minute drive.”
SKHY apartment 501/5 Hohipere Street in Eden Terrace, Auckland, is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-carpark apartment on the market for sale by auction on April 26. The apartment has a 2021 RV of $1.925 million.
The apartment has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, one basement carpark and a second carpark on its own in nearby Luna Apartments. Photo / Supplied
The SKHY precinct was developed by brother developers Lamont & Co (whose numerous completed projects include FABRIC of Onehunga) in collaboration with Cheshire Architects. It included redevelopment of Winstone’s former 1970s head office into luxury apartments.
Lisa says: “That created apartments with a higher than standard stud height and a subtly semi-industrial style, with horizontal concrete beams exposed around the top of most of our interior walls.
“You walk into our apartment and are struck by the size of the kitchen-living-dining area and its floor-to-ceiling glass looking out over the city.”
Their corner position’s views in the pet-friendly, Auckland Boy’s Grammar-zoned apartments includes Mt Eden, the cityscape, harbour and Rangitoto out to Coromandel.
Steve says: “The view is great all the time but at night it’s spectacular, with the lights all around the city and ships coming and going.”
The owners understand this is only the second time a north-west corner apartment has been on the market since the refurbishment. Photo / Supplied
The 134sqm air-conditioned apartment is extended by a 20sqm covered deck, accessible from the open-plan living and two of the three bedrooms, including the master. Photo / Supplied
The 134sqm air-conditioned apartment is extended by a 20sqm covered deck, accessible from the open-plan living and two of the three bedrooms, including the master.
The couple understand this is only the second time one of these north-west corner apartments, which are tightly held for their sunniness, has been on the market post the refurbishment.
American oak flooring graces the open-plan living where the kitchen has considerable bench-space, a marble-topped island and stainless steel splashback and surrounds around the hob.
They added a sink to the laundry-scullery off the kitchen, where there’s room for their wine fridge. Creating a feature wall of turquoise bird wallpaper added interest to the ensuited master bedroom.
Their building’s main entrance is at the end of Hohipere Street off Symonds Street. Their apartment comes with a storage locker and one basement carpark plus a second carpark on its own title nearby in Luna Apartments.
They’ve enjoyed SKHY’s friendly sense of community fostered by barbecues in the precinct’s central courtyard. They think this area will become even more vibrant with the completion of the Maungawhau Train Station but are selling ready for a change.
