New portfolio reflects an active market

A new Insite portfolio publication containing 43 properties has been released to the market by Barfoot & Thompson Commercial.
The offerings comprise 16 properties for sale by negotiation, 10 by deadline private treaty, six for auction, and four for sale by tenders. Included in the portfolio are seven properties for lease. With the exception of Whangarei, the portfolio properties are all in the Auckland area. 
Commenting on the current market conditions, David Campbell, manager for Barfoot & Thompson Commercial South Auckland says overseas and domestic investor demand remains strong for good quality commercial properties.
“Both the Auckland CBD and the city fringe office markets have seen good returns in the past year with continuing tenant demand being the catalyst for ongoing new developments.
“These will see around 70,000sq m of space added to the city fringe and metropolitan markets over the next two years,” Campbell says.
“This is likely to increase the amount of vacant space, so landlords with secondary quality space may need to consider upgrading their buildings.”
Campbell says the industrial property investment market continues to outperform other sectors with low vacancy rates, steady rental growth and low yields over the past 12 months. 
“The current market has all the characteristics of a late market upswing,” Campbell says. “Low interest rates continue to support investor interest, while occupiers continue to struggle to find good quality space for their expanding businesses. 
“Little vacant space combined with moderate rent growth has encouraged increased development activity with the majority of new industrial developments continuing to focus on South Auckland. 
“Demand for development sites in preferred locations continues to outstrip supply.  As a consequence, land prices remain high - putting pressure on developers’ profit margins.”
Vacated by a restaurant tenant, Unit CU10, Shed 23, Princes Wharf, 145 Quay St. Photo / Supplied

Vacated by a restaurant tenant, Unit CU10, Shed 23, Princes Wharf, 145 Quay St.

Photo / Supplied

“The site is held in three freehold unit titles on about 890sq m of land and purchasers have the option to buy one, two or all three units,” Brown says.

“The property comprises two contemporary concrete tilt slab buildings with a total gross floor area of around 640sq m and 15 car parks.”

The larger building has basement parking with ground and first floor offices totalling 420sq m.

  • Ground floor Unit A of 210sq m with six car parks is leased for $64,569 per annum to Brightstar Design Trading as Vikon Design and Construction on a lease running through to August 31, 2026 if two rights of renewal are exercised.
  • First floor Unit B, also of 210sq m and with six car parks, is leased to Forsyth Barr Ltd paying annual rent of $63,949 on a lease to end February 21, 2022 with a right of renewal exercised.
  • Unit C comprises a second building of three levels encompassing office, residential, garage and storage space and is enhanced by attractive gardens. Having a total area of 220sq m and three car parks, it is leased to Architect Homes Limited on a gross lease basis earning $44,180 per annum until June 1, 2019 at which date the landlord has the discretion to on-charge operating expenses to the tenant. With a right of renewal, the lease ends on May 31, 2021.

Andrews says the buildings were constructed in the late 1990s and benefit from being close to Takapuna's amenities and major arterial routes including the State Highway 1 Northern Motorway.

“The Mixed Use zoned, rectangular site has a 19-metre frontage to Lake Rd and a 48-metre frontage to Sanders Ave,” he says.

Across the harbour, a ground level retail unit is for sale on Princes Wharf in downtown Auckland.

“Vacated by the Secret Garden Premium Buffett Restaurant, it’s currently fitted out as restaurant premises with an extensive chattels list but may also be suited to office accommodation,” says broker Bill Carlson. He is marketing Unit CU10, Shed 23, 145 Quay St for sale with vacant possession by tender closing at 4pm on Thursday August 16.

“The unit is leasehold with 77 years remaining on a ground lease with a nominal rental of one dollar per year,” Carlson says.

The dual tenancy property for sale at 468 Rosebank Rd, Avondale. Photo / Supplied

The dual tenancy property for sale at 468 Rosebank Rd, Avondale. Photo / Supplied

“The ownership Structure of Prince's Wharf is Crown Land, leased for l00 years from l995 to 2095 to Ports of Auckland Limited; and with a sublease to Dockland Wharf Leases Limited which expires September 7, 2095. These individual commercial, retail and car park units in Shed 23 are then leased, and held by, the registered owners of units.

“Princes Wharf has been redeveloped into a multi-storied, upmarket residential, retail and commercial centre anchored by the Hilton Hotel, as well as still being used as a cruise ship terminal. Shed 23 is one of six structures erected on the wharf and is a six-storey building completed in l999.”

Carlson says the unit for sale has a ground floor area of 528.58sq m with frontages to the waterfront and a wharf access lane of around 24m each.

“It’s towards the northern end of Shed 23 and has sea views over the Auckland Harbour to the west.”

Moving ‘out West’ to Avondale, a large retail and warehouse property is on the market in the popular Rosebank Rd commercial precinct.

Also, for sale by tender closing at 4pm on Thursday, August 16, the 468 Rosebank Rd is being marketed by Colin Stewart who describes it as “a superbly located 1960s’ multi-tenanted commercial property”.

Earning annual rent of $194,375 plus GST from two tenants, the freehold property has a total lettable building area of 2298.25sq m occupying 4047sq m of land that has onsite space for 41 car parks.

The front retail tenancy of 127.6sq m is occupied by Top Choice Bakery paying $33,175 plus GST per annum; while a much larger area of 2170.65sq m is leased to Surplus Traders for annual rent of $161,200 plus GST.

Stewart says the level land in one title has a frontage of 34.14m to the southwestern side of Rosebank Rd and has exposure to 20,000 vehicles passing by each day.

“The flexible Business - Light Industry zoning, allows for 100 per cent site coverage with a building height of up to 20 metres, so this property offers superb redevelopment opportunities in the medium to long-term,” he says.

1140 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway comprises the green field land running along road frontage at bottom. Photo / Supplied

1140 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway comprises the green field land running

along road frontage at bottom. Photo / Supplied

Further north, a large corner property of 2.4266ha is for sale in Riverhead after being held in the same family for 50 years. 

“Astute purchasers with an eye to the future will see the huge potential in this strategic land holding which has a Future Urban zoning under the Unitary Plan,” says broker John Stringer who, with colleague Eddie Zhao is marketing 1140 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway for sale by tender, closing at 3pm on Wednesday August 15.

Stringer says the north facing level site is essentially rectangular in shape with 300m of road frontage allowing for easy future development.

A five-bedroom house built in the 1940s occupies a portion of the land with separate double garage and sheds.

“The Future Urban zone is applied to greenfield land that has been identified as suitable for urbanisation. But this zone is transitional, so the land may be used for a range of rural activities but cannot be used for urban activities until it is rezoned,” Stringer says.

“Farming, greenhouses and market gardening are among the present permitted uses along with care centres for up to 10 people, but the real value of this property lies in its Future Urban zoning.”

Zhao says Riverhead has seen significant growth in recent years and is one of only a handful of areas in the Northwest identified for Future Urban development.

“This property is well positioned across the road from residential subdivisions and will benefit from a future zoning change that will help Auckland cope with its increasing population.”

He says Auckland Council envisions urban development within the Future Urban zone around 2028-2032