Stylish village development for Kaukapakapa

Monday, 5 December 2016

Stylish village development for Kaukapakapa

It has been a few years in the making to ensure a great outcome is delivered, but leasing and selling has now begun on the mixed-use commercial development known as the Kaukapakapa Village Centre.

Forty minutes north-west of the Auckland CBD, the ground has been broken for the significant new project immediately next to the iconic Kaukapakapa Village Hotel at the northern end of the popular country settlement.

Dave Crow of Century 21 Crow Realty, based in Kaukapakapa, is the exclusive leasing and sales agent for the development and says its time has come.

“Kaukapakapa is a fast-growing community that is crying out for a retail village of this scale. A lot of time and effort has gone into its design to ensure it’s a stylish development that reflects its country setting and in fact adds to it.

“Utilising quality finishing materials, the architect is Jasmax and the whole concept has been reviewed and had input from Auckland Council’s Urban Design Panel. Occupants and residents alike will be proud of how it looks and the vibrancy it’s going to bring."

Mr Crow says the development will only help make the historic country village more of a destination. Its prospects are boosted by the fact that it sits on SH16 at 1079 Kaipara Coast Highway - the only alternative route north. What’s more Kaukapakapa is not far from Helensville and only 20 minutes from SH1 and significant population growth in the likes of Silverdale. And he says if a tourist train ever started up, the North Auckland rail line goes right past the development.

“We’re seeing more nearby lifestyle properties, plus there are several subdivisions underway with the main one being 51 residential sections on the corner of SH16 and Peak Road. Many of those houses are now completed with additional future growth well planned for.”

The development offers retail shops, offices, apartments above, a supermarket, and a service station which is already leased and will be open early in the second quarter of 2017. The granted resource consent also allows for licensed premises such as a café, restaurant or bar.

As well as the service station, stage one of the village development includes four commercial spaces with three of them also now leased for a real estate office, pharmacy and medical suite. They are due for completion by July next year. An offer to purchase both of the two apartments in stage one has been received.

Mr Crow says the best opportunity to secure a commercial lease or buy an apartment is in stage two of the development which is due for completion in 2018. The development’s smallest commercial unit is 63sqm. The largest is the 530sqm supermarket space which four parties are currently considering. Expressions of interest have also been received in relation to the café/bar, bakery/delicatessen, a liquor store, and for two of the remaining 10 apartments.

“We also have the option of selling a few less apartments and having a motel as part of the village instead which has real appeal given the shortage of accommodation in the wider north-west area.”

A lot of careful thought has gone into the design. For example, a feature will be made of the stormwater pond which will also be available for local firefighting efforts. The pond will include feature bridges to a central pontoon which its designers anticipate could be used for bands to play from or even couples to marry on. The cafe/bar and potentially motel units will open onto or overlook the pond.

Mr Crow says potential commercial operators thinking they could easily lease in other parts of Kaukapakapa need to consider just how limited the commercial zone is. Many of the long-time existing businesses are located on land zoned for residential use. He says the council’s unitary plan has identified a confined town centre area for future business activity which the Kaukapakapa Village development sits right in the middle of it.

The local demographics are changing with the wider Kaukapakapa area now home to a higher percentage of residents in their thirties to fifties than found in the rest of Auckland and nationally, with younger families moving out from the city for quality of life reasons.

He says while it’s still much more affordable than Auckland’s central suburbs, nonetheless over the past five years median property price increases in Kaukapakapa have well outpaced many other rural areas in Rodney.

“Kaukapakapa is a much-loved country village which is only going to get better and become more popular. This new village centre will give Kaukapakapa a real heart and will only add to the area’s momentum,” says Mr Crow.

Century 21 national manager Geoff Barnett says the Kaukapakapa Village Centre will do well and says overall Century 21 is looking forward to having a greater presence in the commercial property sector in New Zealand.

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