If you knew everything about every one of Auckland’s neighbourhoods, what makes great design and great community, where would you live?
Birkenhead Point, as it turns out.
Auckland Council’s first ever design champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid, who resigned from his post last month after 13 years, is selling his gracious Victorian villa to take on an international job transfer.
Campbell-Reid pushed through some historic firsts in the city. His Auckland Design Office championed a renaissance of the urban downtown that made people, not cars, the centre of city life. He promoted the globally award-winning Lightpath – Te Ara I Whiti, which transformed a redundant motorway exit to a pink path linking Grafton, the NorthWestern and city off-road riding routes.
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The shame is that this fan of two legs or two wheels over four – he wasn’t afraid to point out the error of NZME’s own Mike Hosking anti-cycling rants - won’t be staying in his neighbourhood to welcome the arrival of the much-delayed SkyPath finally connecting the tip of his neighbourhood, Birkenhead and Northcote Points, to the city
for walkers and cyclists.
A trio of agents Bayleys agents, Sue Mayhew, Linda Simmons and Anna Mayhew are asking for expressions of interest on the property by November 27.
The Campbell-Reid family’s Victorian villa that sprawls over two levels has one of the most admired frontages in the village, with a classic bay window, French doors and sash windows opening to the lace-trimmed front verandah. There’s a rolling lawn, mature pohutukawa and even a white picket fence.
The house has an airy front parlour, three bedrooms including a grand master suite and a newly renovated kitchen and dining space at the more modern two-story rear. Original ceilings, fireplaces and wood floors speak of the turn-of-last-century origins of the house, as does the generous 931 sq m section with bush views.
The downstairs accommodation includes a living room with a bar to service the dining terrace, swimming pool and spa area, and there’s also a bedroom, laundry and stand-alone office. Above the roomy garage is another self-contained space with bathroom and kitchenette that would make a great home office, teen or granny flat.
The agents reckon this is as close to perfect as it gets, with its easy walks to the ferry to the city, parks and of Little Shoal Bay beach, bush walks and cafes just moments away.
Check out the listing below: