Huge apartment tower planned for Takapuna site

Renters the target market in housing game changer

A 39-storey tower and 358 ‘build to rent’ dwellings are included in a massive new development planned for central Takapuna.

The proposal – for a prime block-wide corner site next to the Toka Puia public car-parking building – includes a tiered street-front ‘podium’ up to six storeys high, along with ground-floor retail, hospitality and business space. The 140.6m-high trapezoidal tower will rise behind it.

The development would rival the nearby Sentinel apartment tower, which has only 30 storeys but peaks at 150m, so would narrowly remain the North Shore’s tallest building.

The project would be the Shore’s largest example of a build-to-rent residential development.

One of the two companies in the trans-Tasman consortium behind it already has a partnership with student-accommodation operator UniLodge, though student housing is not mentioned in an application for planning consent.

Apartments in the plan include 64 as small as 42sqm, plus balconies. In addition to studios, units with one, two and three-bedrooms are offered. Tenants would have access to extensive common areas, including dining, gym, lounge and recreation facilities, a pool, roof-top space, meeting areas and on-site management.

The consortium has lodged an application in the name of Gasometer Developments Ltd for a non-notified consent to build in the metropolitan centre zone.

Its application to Auckland Council planners lodged this month carried an attachment described as an endorsement from council property arm Eke Panuku. A spokesman for Eke Panuku confirmed after Observer inquiries last that it had entered into a conditional sales and development agreement for the council-owned land dating back to 2021.

A sale price would not be revealed until setTo page 4

Meth clean-up revealed

The future of a boarded-up state house left unoccupied in Otaku Rd, Milford, for more than a year will be decided soon, says Housing Minister Megan Woods. North Shore MP Simon Watts asked why the house has been empty when there is a waiting list for Kainga Ora accommodation. Woods told him Kainga Ora had advised it required methamphetamine decontamination, after access to it was regained in July 2022. This was finished in late October, but a compliance certificate was needed before maintenance work to make it habitable could start. Irregular grounds maintenance had been restored to a three-week schedule, she said.

Sister paper recognised

The Observer’s sister paper, the Devonport Flagstaff, is a finalist in the Best Community Newspaper category at this year’s Voyager national media awards. Managing editor Rob Drent is also a finalist in the Best Community Journalist section of the awards, with a porfolio of work that includes an Observer story about the future of the Milford-Takapuna walkway. Winners will be announced on 27 May. The Flagstaff was founded 30 years ago, and the Observer launched in 2019.

Noodles get the nod

A flat-noodle dish at Milford restaurant Tokki has made a list of Auckland’s best dishes. Metro magazine’s Top 50 Dishes selection included the Kitchener Rd eatery’s in-house-made flat noodles with chili and pork. Chef Jason Kim opened the modern Korean restaurant last year.

Alfie wins silver

Westlake Boys High runner Alfie Steedman picked up two silver medals competing for a New Zealand team at the Australian Junior Athletics Championship, held in Brisbane during the school holidays. The Year 12 student came second in the Under 18 1500m and 3000m. The holder of national secondary schools cross-country and middle-distance intermediate titles is competing in the senior section this year.

Big estuary haul

A big community clean-up of the Wairau Estuary last Saturday removed more than a dozen rubbish bins, a fridge and other flood debris. Further clean-ups are planned.