Concept Work Continues on Potential MCC Redevelopment
And
Someone Has Already Started Doing So
From “MANUKAU CITY CENTRE – POTENTIAL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT”
Manukau City Centre is arguably the core thus Central Business District for Southern Auckland. The area contains medium to high density office space, retail, the Westfield Mall, Council civic functions, the stalled construction of the tertiary MIT Building and Manukau Transport Interchange (although the train station is operating), the Counties Manukau Police HQ and Manukau District Court , and Rainbows End. The area is also flanked by big box retail and low density commercial office and retail (which includes two supermarkets and a large Westpac Bank), and Wiri industrial zone to the west. Transit wise Manukau is served by the following links:
- State Highway One – The Southern Motorway
- State Highway Twenty – The South Western Motorway and part of the Western Ring Route
- Great South Road
- State Highway 20B which feeds to Auckland International Airport
- Te Irirangi Drive which connects Manukau to the eastern suburbs such as Botany and Howick
- The North Island Main Trunk Line (heavy rail) and the Manukau Branch Line which comes of NIMT and feeds in Manukau Station.
- Various other arterial roads feeding into immediate surrounding areas
- Bus Interchange (currently outside the east entrance of Westfield Mall)
Manukau is surround by vast urban and rural areas (making upwards a third of Auckland’s entire population) that basically feed and support the city centre. Manukau is arguably the second core of Auckland after the main CBD.
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The good thing is Manukau has the foundations laid already at its City Centre in the form of some high density commercial office/service/retail developments, supporting civic infrastructure, educational facilities, transit systems, while flanked by industrial and residential activities. Heck we even have Rainbows End as well
This means with vision and a willing Council, Manukau will be ready for investors and enterprising folk alike for the next stage of large-scale development and redevelopment of the City Centre.
I have already decided to put pen to paper – well used Sketch Up to coin out my own idea on what we could do for some nice brand new development in Manukau City Centre. Basically flipping over an open Council car park into a multiplex of office, retail, commercial services, public spaces and even accommodation – all right by the MIT and Manukau Interchange and no more than 100 metres away from Westfield Mall or the transit system (road and rail).
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Since the initial drawings, further work and some micro detailing concepts were added to (draft) main structure to get an impression on what the complex could look like. Also this time I have added the optional apartment/hotel annex to the complex which is located (in different colour) on the eastern side flanking Manukau Station Road (former Wiri Station Road)
Detailing Work and Apartment Annex Addition to Manukau Multi Purpose Complex
Unfortunately I won’t be able to do too much more detailing work before I fly out to Australia on Monday for our 14 day holiday. But I will continue developing the concept when I return.
Of note though was this Facebook comment from Councillor George Wood and my reply:
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George Wood Ben and Millie: The Auckland council has a real problem with the train station and future development of the rail system if they wanted to take it through to Botany. If they allow developers to take the car park that you are looking at then that would put an end to any move to the east of the Manukau Link line.
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Ben Ross The Manukau Station and line is already handicapped by the station configuration and MIT over the top not allowing the line to be easily extended east.
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So the concept plans for this potential redevelopment would allow for the Manukau/Botany Line to run underneath its north western flank, with the main car-stacker (park) situated at the opposite eastern flank of the complex. I do take these things into account when “planning” for such things – unlike say err council and central government planners from time to time.
I also see someone is not waiting for Council nor its CCO Auckland Council Investment Limited (ACIL) to get cracking with redevelopment of prime real estate in Auckland.
From Voxy:
Manukau apartment building gets make-over
Property investors are pouncing on a prime new central Manukau building refurbishment, with 70 of its freehold strata apartments and retail spaces sold since going on the market in February.
M Central will comprise 114 apartments, starting from $218,000, and 34 retail units, from $69,000 (+ GST), in what is currently a commercial building at 17 Putney Way, Manukau City.
The revitalised building will sit in the heart of Manukau’s new urban centre, just 50m walk from the soon-to-open Manukau Institute of Technology campus and train station, directly opposite the proposed Transport Hub and adjacent to Hayman Park.
M Central is being rejuvenated by long-term Manukau property owner, Pacific Equities Group, who is experiencing unprecedented enquiries about their latest venture.
Director Richard Jamieson says investors clearly see the potential and there is renewed interest in apartment living, with average house prices in Auckland now topping $500,000.
MIT’s new Tertiary Centre will soon have around 5000 students on site, and their roll is due to reach 25,000. In addition to that, about 600,000 passengers a year are predicted to use the new train station and 1.2 million people are expected to eventually use the transport hub each year.
Jamieson says investor feedback indicates people feel secure when buying at M Central because although they are buying off a plan, they can touch and see the existing building and better imagine the end result.
“People get to fix the purchase price now, with the market on the rise, and a ten percent deposit secures the unit with payment on completion mid-2014.
“Also, the current level of housing is at capacity, so future demand for accommodation, especially for students, will be high. We have had a lot of interest in multiple purchases. One investor purchased three retail units and they are interested in two more,” he says.
Award-winning architects Leuschke Group will rejuvenate the landmark building with a fresh design which architectural commentators from skyscrapers.com have likened to buildings in Rotterdam, Holland, a city known for its innovative design.
M Central will stand 11 stories high, and feature contemporary high stud one, two, three and four bedroom apartments. Spectacular views will be available over the surrounding city and out across the Bombay hills, Rangitoto Island and the rugged Manukau Heads. The two story retail complex will include a supermarket, cafes and a number of speciality shops.
With a population of approximately 330,000, Manukau is New Zealand’s third largest city, and the fastest growing.
“Manukau is about to enter a dynamic period of growth, and the city’s hub will soon shift to this precinct. M Central is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the influx of students and commuters and will become a key feature of this vibrant new community.”
Jamieson says M Central’s display suite is now open from 10am – 4pm every weekend, and on Wednesdays from 11am – 2pm. For more information call 0508 MCENTRAL (0508 623 687).
For more information and artist’s impressions visit www.mcentral.co.nz.
Seems someone is echoing my thoughts on the absolute high potential Manukau has.
Time to see which Council Committee I need to stump up to, to try to convince them to turn their useless and ugly open air car park into something more productive and actually pays council some rates dollars here. If you are wondering where those cars in that council car park would go, I see that Auckland Transport Parking Building 75 metres down the road is still empty 😉 …
More to come when I am back from Australia
Talking Southern Auckland 
Click to access acplpropertydevelopmentrpt20130226.pdf
Have a look at the February Monthly report from Auckland Council property. Looks like things are going on behind the scenes, see page 5 for brief summary, including mixed used development next to bus interchange.
Not too much more the council needs to do that isn’t already happening. They first need to find interest in developing offices outside of that new carpark building. ManCity has the next ten years sorted maybe they can add tarting up the area behind Cobb&Co within the next ten years. More needs to happen in Papatoetoe.