Dubbed “The Cube” and defying its former life as a windscreen repair warehouse, an architect-designed apartment and showroom conversion in the city fringe suburb of Newton is for sale in a neighbourhood that is undergoing transformative regeneration.
New Zealand-trained architect David Howell, who runs DHD, one of New York’s leading architecture and interior design practices, lead the conversion of the property in the late 2000s for his Auckland-based clients – Gow Langsford Gallery co-founder Gary Langsford, and interior designer Vicki Vuleta.
At the time, Howell described the now-evolving location as “a gritty mixed-use zone”, but could see the potential of the 293sqm site at the corner of Upper Queen Street and Dacre Street, where compelling city views could be unlocked from a multi-level building.
His clients lived in the exclusive and expansive upper level apartment for around 15 years, with Vuleta’s interiors business Design 55 operating from the ground floor showroom premises.
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The property was later sold to a private investor, who has since decided to take his investment portfolio in a different direction, hence the property is once more for sale.
The property at 55 Upper Queen Street is being marketed through Alan Haydock and Damien Bullick of Bayleys Auckland Metro team, with tenders closing Tuesday 24th September, unless sold prior.
Haydock says when converted, the footprint of the original warehouse building was retained, then optimised to create 816sqm of quality multi-level space.
“This includes a high-spec’ 560sqm residential apartment, including a large terrace, 256sqm of showroom/retail space, and a basement carparking level with capacity for up to nine vehicles.
“The three-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom apartment spans two interconnected floors and also features a media room, multiple living areas, and an outdoor courtyard on the upper level at the western end of the building.
“It is currently utilised as short-term visitor accommodation promoted via various online booking sites, with the owner outsourcing the management of this.”
The commercial space at street level has independent access and is separated internally from the private zones, with 207sqm of showroom currently vacant and around 49sqm of space leased to established hospitality operator, Modicum Café.
The showroom component can be offered with vacant possession, or with a vendor leaseback on settlement, explains Haydock.
“While the property has worked well as an investment and could certainly continue as short-term guest accommodation, a new owner could move into the family-sized apartment and run a business from the ground floor showroom as the ultimate live-work scenario.
“Alternatively that showroom could be re-leased as a destination retail space, with the off-street on-grade parking out front for customers being a bonus in Auckland today.
“The Uptown precinct, which comprises Eden Terrace and most of Newton and Grafton, is evolving to become a really vibrant area after seeming somewhat fractured when the historic neighbourhood was redefined by motorway developments, and is emerging as a characterful, creative precinct.”
Bullick says residentially, the building is “stunning” and stands out as a rare offering in the Business-Mixed Use zone, where the overlay allows development up to 32.5m in height.
“There have been several apartment complexes developed in the immediate area including Proxima Residences in Eden Terrace, and the 59 France development by Urban Collective undertaken on the former Kings Arms pub site in Newton.
“The subject property is superbly positioned for access to the Ponsonby Road, K’Road, Mt Eden and Newmarket retail and hospitality precincts. It is close to motorway and arterial road networks, and the under-construction City Rail Link is set to further streamline connections on the western line, with the closest station to the property being the new Karanga-a-Hape Station in Mercury Lane.”
- Supplied by Bayleys
