Now construction has started on Hobsonville Point’s waterfront Catalina Bay Apartments, the local community is anticipating the additional success and vigour these residences will bring to the precinct.
More than 70% of Catalina Bay Apartments’ 82 apartments, penthouses and terraced homes have already sold off-the-plans for what is considered a unique, one-of-a-kind development.
Buyers have been drawn to the prospect of living right by the water in a special seaside community being brought to life by property development and investment company Willis Bond.
Farmers Market Manager and Hobsonville Point local Greg Torchia says, “It’s an exciting time knowing the apartments are now underway, at the same time as new landscape works are happening to give the waterfront public spaces around here a facelift.
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“I’ve met a few people who’ve bought at Catalina Bay Apartments and they are so enthusiastic about moving into their new home once it’s complete.
“We’ve just started to notice in the last few weeks that the crowds are starting to come back to the Farmers Market after all the Covid restrictions.
“We’re absolutely planning for growth and additional patronage at the market, which we’re confident apartment residents will gravitate to.”
The apartment complex with its enviable water views will have 82 apartments, penthouses and terraced homes. Photo / Supplied
The Catalina Bay Apartments complex is part of the mixed-use development Willis Bond is creating at the northern-most tip of Hobsonville Point, working with architects Architectus and construction partner LT McGuinness.
The precinct is rich in history, taking its name from the Catalina flying boats onsite when Catalina Bay was the preserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Willis Bond’s stage one regeneration works involved careful refurbishment of seven heritage buildings which have since been transformed into mixed-use office and hospitality, including a new home for Catalina Bay Farmer’s Market.
“This is a well thought out master-planned community, and the sense of community really is strong,” says Torchia.
The Farmers Market, which operates in one of the re-purposed ex-Air Force buildings, runs three days a week, Friday to Sunday, with a Thursday evening night market during daylight savings.
“There are some wonderful artisan products being sold, ranging from things like bread, cheeses and award-winning olive oil to beautiful honey created by beekeepers from the Bethell Valley,” Torchia says.
The complex is part of a mixed-use development Willis Bond is creating at the northern-most tip of Hobsonville Point. Photo / Supplied
Catalina Bay was once the preserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force which housed Catalina flying boats onsite. Photo / Supplied
Catalina Bay, often referred to as a seaside village nestled on the edge of the Waitemata Harbour, also enjoys access to the coastal boardwalk and a ferry terminal with sailings direct to Auckland’s CBD.
“Of course it’s not only locals who visit. Now there are more ferries running throughout the day and night from Auckland City to Hobsonville Point and back, it’s easy for people to pop out here for a couple of hours to enjoy the good food, drinks and scenery.”
Manager of Catalina Bay’s purpose-built shared office space The Hangar, Danielle L’Estrange, can see how the apartments will only enhance the locale’s reputation as somewhere fantastic to work, live and play.
“I think Catalina Bay is an excellent example of how putting the time in to consider the master plan for a site like this, can really create somewhere very special and unique.”
The display suite on Boundary Road, opposite the ferry terminal, is open by appointment. Photo / Supplied
The Hangar has a diverse range of clients, including those involved in traffic management, engineers, marketers and HR practitioners and a beauty product business. “With Covid we’ve seen that while a lot of people can work from home, they certainly don’t all like to.
“Some of our members have purchased homes at Catalina Bay Apartments, and we can only see The Hangar continuing to grow as this community does.”
Catalina Bay Apartments’ range of residences is scheduled to be completed in early to mid-2024 with a selection of premium one, two and three-bedroom apartments and wharf terraces available along with two exquisite penthouses.
The one-bedroom apartments are priced from $985,000, and includes carparking. The display suite on Boundary Road, opposite the ferry terminal, is open by appointment; visit catalinabayapartments.co.nz.
The complex is being marketed by Barfoot & Thompson’s Annie Yong-Mewburn, Pam Riley and Sarah Benbow.
- Sponsored by Willis Bond
