The Weekend Sun | Life tastes better with Salt

With Bay property in high demand and plenty of people looking to buy in the idyllic beach setting of Mount Maunganui, there's no better time for the introduction of Salt.

Salt is a 71-dwelling residential development in Mount Maunganui that's just been granted resource consent.

It is exceptional in its design and visionary in its approach. A boutique residential development of apartments and townhouses with a landscaped village green for residents to enjoy.

Developed by SNG Investments Ltd and marketed by Colliers International, Salt will be built on a former camping ground that is now a designated Special Housing Area.

SNG Investments Ltd director Paul Spillane says he is delighted that more than two-thirds of the dwellings have been sold off the plans since Salt was launched last December.

“I'm thrilled with how sales have gone. The Colliers International team has 50 units under contract, including 17 of the 19 townhouses, putting us well ahead of schedule,” says Paul.

“We've got resource consent and we're ready to push the button by the end of April.

“This will be one of the biggest construction projects in the Bay of Plenty, and we can't wait to get underway.”

The Girven Rd site will be home to 52 apartments, 19 townhouses, a cafe, a childcare centre, and large shared village green – all a short stroll from the sea.

The Salt community will contain an on-site café at the Girven Rd entrance to the site. The café will be an open, inviting space that offers a range of food and beverages suited for any occasion.

Grant White of Colliers International says most Salt buyers intend to live in their new dwellings or use them as lock-and-leave holiday homes.

“Almost half of the buyers have come from Auckland, with the remainder coming from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, including a few Mount locals,” says Grant.

“The mix of buyers is unbelievable. Initially we thought the demographic would be older, but it's across the board – we have young couples, mature professional couples, holidaymakers and retirees.”

Grant says the location, quality and design of Salt is key to its success.

“Buyers like that it's brand new, well-designed and has a good body corporate.”

But what sets this residential community apart? “There are three factors,” says Paul.

“Location, which is only 240m from the beach, with easy access to all lifestyle essentials – shops, cafés, medical centres, sports facilities and transport links.

“Design, which incorporates a 750m2 village green, which has been a real plus. People like that it's got a waterfall as well, and the apartments are architecturally designed with exceptional quality and style.

“And quality. The quality of what we are doing is well above industry standard. The bathroom, laundry and kitchens include many European and custom fittings, bathrooms are fully tiled with glass showers.

“We're very happy with what we've done, we've spent a lot of time on getting it right, and I think by doing so, and by putting the emphasis on design and quality, it's certainly paid off,” says Paul.

Centered on a landscaped communal green area with a water feature and winding boardwalks, Salt comprises a series of high-quality three-storey apartment buildings and two-storey townhouses.

Prices range from $440,000 for a single bedroom apartment to $975,000 for a large three-bedroom townhouse.

The ground-floor two-bedroom apartments are spacious and modern with ground level access and private courtyards that adjoin the beautiful landscaped village green.

Positioned to catch plenty of morning or afternoon sun, with east or west facing aspects available, these apartments are ideal for those who love to entertain or who enjoy relaxing outdoors. Priced from $540,000 – they are a great option for those looking to imbibe the Salt lifestyle.

All apartments and townhouses have been designed with a holistic approach to space, light and comfort. Open-plan living areas flow into large balconies for additional flexibility and freedom.

The ground level apartments have their own private courtyards that are landscaped to intertwine with the lush village green and surrounding natural flora, which has been planned in collaboration with Michelle McDonnell Landscape Design.

The townhouses are an ideal low-maintenance home with ample space for entertaining while enjoying the tranquillity of Salt. Each townhouse will have highly detailed and quality finishes, with spacious open plan living and extensive glazing, connecting your private sanctuary with Salt's residential community and beyond.

The townhouses are two-storey two or three-bedroom layouts with all townhouses designed to balance privacy with street presence.

The site is located on a bus route and is only a few minutes' walk from the beach, Bayfair Shopping Centre, Baywave Aquatic Centre, ASB Baypark Stadium, a medical centre, and two popular golf courses.

Tauranga City Council-appointed independent hearings commissioner David Hill granted resource consent recently.

“The provision of higher density housing in this residential community will contribute to and enable the social, economic, and cultural wellbeing of people and communities,” says David.

Salt's lead architect Graham Price from respected Tauranga architecture practice First Principles notes that emphasis has been placed on creating well resolved solutions for all aspects of the architecture and interior spaces, which he says are aesthetically superior in their design.

“The balance and relationship between two-storey townhouses and three-storey apartment buildings has been carefully planned and developed to ensure a variety of dwellings that include open streetscape views, a range of unit sizes and varied types of living environments.”

For more information, visit: www.saltliving.nz