Lillian Liu, director of developer Zoom Living, is passionate about providing first-time buyers high quality, affordable housing in a picturesque setting.
She’s knocked it out of the park at The Green on Woodglen, a community-focussed development in Auckland’s Glen Eden, which has been thoughtfully designed for residents to thrive.
“This is one of my proudest projects,” she says. “When I first saw the land I loved it – with its native birdlife and lush reserve opposite.
“I think The Green is one of the most beautiful projects in West Auckland because we designed it around a central park. Everywhere within the development is green – that’s why we called it that. We want people to live here and enjoy their environment.”
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A testament to this is that only eight of the original 61 freehold homes remain for sale, with layouts to suit not just first-home buyers and young families, but downsizers looking for easy, low maintenance living.
They include two duplex homes of around 78sqm, which offer three bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathrooms and a designated parking space, and six three-level, terraced homes that are roughly 99sqm each. These incorporate three bedrooms, two-and-a half bathrooms and a study, as well as a designated parking space. The grounds and landscaping were key elements of the master plan.
“I think that if people live in a community like this, they need a central space. We could have built more homes to fill the site but we considered our residents here – they need the green and the peaceful, park feel.
“We used SOLA landscaping, they are a Kiwi business and do a lot of my projects, they’re very good. There are some special plants onsite and really elegant gardens.”
3,9,17-21 Don Oliver Lane have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and one car park. Photo / Supplied
The developer, Zoom Living, is offering two financial assistance packages to first-home buyers. Photo / Supplied
The same level of care has gone into creating the modern, high quality living environments.
“Some people build affordable housing but they use cheap design and materials. I don’t like that. We used a lot of brick and James Hardie board, with different colours and designs. All of our houses also have really big windows to maximise the light, sun and green views.
“Every house also has a deck and small garden, which are big enough for family members and pets to enjoy time outside.”
Liu also firmly believes that a sense of personal wellbeing is directly correlated to feeling content at home.
“If people love their home, they’re happy to go to work and are happy with their family. If they’re not happy with it, or they have a lot of burden with their mortgage or the house always has issues or no sunshine, they’re not happy.”
Affordability is another major consideration, as is providing much needed to support to first-home buyers in the Auckland housing market.
Zoom Living offers two financial assistance options. Vendor Finance on Deposit, where an additional 5% deposit is provided by the vendor. The buyer then repays this amount over a period of two to five years, with a standard interest rate applied.
The homes are suitable not just for first-home buyers and young families, but also downsizers looking for easy, low maintenance living. Photo / Supplied
Zoom Living director Lillian Liu says: “I think The Green is one of the most beautiful projects in West Auckland because we designed it around a central park.” Photo / Supplied
Zoom Living also set up a charity – The Affordable Housing Charitable Foundation – to assist a number of first-home buyers with the balance of their deposit, if needed.
The idea is that the charity contributes up to 50% of the deposit and co-owns the property. The buyer has the option to purchase the charity share of the equity anytime within a five to 10-year timeframe.
The development’s location has deep roots within Glen Eden’s local community. This is the former site of the Don Oliver Family Fitness Centre, which was established in 1975 and the first gym in West Auckland. It was founded and named after Don Oliver (1937-1996), a New Zealand Olympian and Commonwealth silver and gold medallist in weightlifting. Don’s family home was also on the site.
“I met with Don’s wife before she passed away. We called the road Don Oliver Lane because we wanted to honour his memory and retain community culture in the area.”
Glen Eden is known for its strong community spirit and multicultural atmosphere. It offers excellent educational options as well as being conveniently located just four minutes from Glen Eden Train Station.
Aman Gulia and Candice Chen, from Harcourts, are proudly marketing these final eight homes.
“It’s projects like The Green on Woodglen that remind you why you got into real estate—these are real homes for real people,” shares Aman.
“This is a thoughtful development with a supportive vendor and happy first-home buyers - this is what it’s all about,” adds Candice.
- 3,9,17-21 Don Oliver Lane in Glen Eden, Waitakere, Auckland, are asking $729,000; 16 and 20 Don Oliver Lane are priced by negotiation
