Mill site seizes imagination

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 47

Mill site seizes imagination

Possibly the closest to New York-style warehouse apartment living currently on offer in Christchurch is the recentlylaunched Millwood Apartment scheme in Wise Street, Addington.

The setting for this venture is the old Wood Brothers’ mill building, a site characterised by superb features such as twelveinch square Oregon beams, kauri floors and brick walls. The site will be a mix of a video and film production studio and 10 apartments with access to luxury features such as a swimming pool, spa pool and tennis courts.

The apartments on offer range in size from 700 sq ft (inclusive of mezzanine floor) to more than 2000 sq ft. Prices range from $58,500 to $115,000.

Apartment ownership is by way of unit title.

The developers have deliberately adopted a “blank canvas” approach to the layout and decorating of the apartments. Owners will obtain an apartment where the major structural work is completed and services such as plumbing, sewerage and electrical supply are all up to current standard. Other than that the only limit placed on the finishing of the apartments is the imagination of the owner.

When asked what the catalyst for the concept of Millwood was, the developer, Tony McArtney, enigmatically responded with “Diva.” “The catalyst really came in two parts,” he said. “First off, I saw the movie ‘Diva* six years ago where one scene shows a steaming bath set in the middle of a huge warehouse.

“A girl rollerskates past the bath.

“I watched the film and thought ‘l’ve got to experience that way of life’.” When Tony McArtney and the production company, Electric Pictures Film Television, moved into the old mill four years ago he immediately recognised the potential of the building for apartments. Turning the dream into a reality took time as the building had to be bought, feasibility studies conducted and the market researched.

When the concept of the development was first marketed earlier this month the intensity of the public response delighted Mr McArtney. “We did anticipate lots of young trendies but that has not been the case at all. They are a diverse group with a common thread of creativity.”

A school teacher, a graphic artist and an interior designer are already confirmed buyers of apartments. Tony McArtney anticipates that this creativity will produce a “community of individuals with a synergy where the creative sum total is greater than its parts.” The agent involved in the sale of the apartments is Mr Kent Duston of Gillman Real Estate Ltd. An instant convert to the Millwood concept he is enjoying the promotion of the apartments greatly. According to Mr Duston the clients break into two distinct groups.

“For the buyers inspection is akin to a conversion experience, they seem to immediately see the potential, while the browsers just seem to leave bemused,” he said.