When Gordon and Lorraine Mann started to look ahead to the next stage of their lives, they knew they wanted to stay in Warkworth, the warm and bustling town just 40 minutes north of Auckland where they’ve called home for the last 10 years.
The problem was they couldn’t find the right property – and many of their friends had the same problem.
“We are empty-nesters, still fit and healthy and continue to lead independent lives,” says Mann. “But when we looked around Warkworth for a small boutique apartment complex that was spacious in design with enough room to accommodate family and visitors, we couldn’t find anything that ticked our boxes. So we decided to build our own.”
The Manns’ family-owned and operated property company, Capstan Developments, has just been granted resource consent for The Portland, a 13-unit apartment block that they plan to spend their own retirement in.
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With extensive experience in design and project management, Capstan Developments is welcoming expressions of interest through their Harcourts Cooper & Co representative from people who want to reduce their property footprint without compromising on their quality of life.
Located at 8 Morpeth Street in Warkworth, The Portland will comprise 13 two-bedroom, two-bathroom, pet-friendly apartments spread across four levels. Each apartment features excellent indoor/outdoor flow out to private balconies that showcase scenic views in every direction, while the basement features parking, EV charging ports, bike racks and storage for every resident.
Prices for two-bedroom apartments range between $999,000 and $1,395,000. Photo / Supplied
Located mere minutes from the centre of Warkworth, The Portland is within walking distance from cafes and restaurants, medical facilities, supermarkets and general stores. Omaha, Pakiri and Tāwharanui beaches are short drives away, while the ever-popular Matakana Market will soon become a Saturday morning social and shopping staple.
For locals, the Portland name will sound familiar. Warkworth was originally established in the 1860s alongside the Mahurangi River which was a port to distribute goods and ferry settlers.
Later, the Wilson Portland Cement Works was built, the first of its kind in New Zealand. Today, the remains of the Cement Works are a popular recreational attraction for locals and visitors to the area alike.
While The Portland is founded on Warkworth’s rich history, Harcourts Cooper & Co agent Amy Wagstaff says the development will also fill a hole in the Warkworth property market.
The Portland name is synonymous in Warkworth with the Wilson Portland Cement Works which was built after 1860 when the town was established as a port on the banks of the Mahurangi River. Photo / Supplied
The Portland will be within walking distance from cafes and restaurants, medical facilities, supermarkets and general stores in Warkworth. Photo / Supplied
“We are thrilled to introduce The Portland, the first-of-its-kind luxury apartment complex in Warkworth,” she says. “This development has been crafted with care by a family who understands its target market and what’s missing for people looking to downsize.”
Gordon and Lorraine look forward to creating a solution for other people’s future housing dreams as well as their own. “Retirement villages can be excellent facilities, but costs are high and you lose a lot of capital,” says Mann.
“We hope The Portland will build a close-knit community of like-minded people who love the area and will love their next stage of life as much as we will.”
Prices for two-bedroom apartments at The Portland range between $999,000 and $1,395,000.
- Sponsored by Harcourts Cooper& Co
