Sylvia Park: A catalyst for a new generation of town centre

Hype has surrounded Sylvia Park since redevelopment of the World War II-vintage storage sheds beside the southern motorway in Mt Wellington was signalled 10 years ago. Developer Kiwi Income Property Trust billed it as a new generation town centre, and the 1999 regional growth strategy envisaged it as a catalyst for residential intensification, boosting the population from 6700 to 17,000.

Weighing in its favour is the main trunk railway line on its eastern boundary. But as earthmovers scour the 21ha site split in half by the southeastern highway, larger forces are at work. Kiwi chief executive Angus McNaughton notes motorway and highway access put Sylvia Park within 20 minutes’ drive of more than half of Auckland’s population.

The revised plans presented to the Auckland City Council this month reveal this is not so much a town centre as a very large mall and office park, with 3500 carparks. Its single biggest building will become another Red Shed. A small strip is set aside for future residential development but, says McNaughton, the residential component remains "an opportunity".

Auckland City Council planners have worked closely with Kiwi to influence design. "We’re spending millions on the facades and a promenade," says McNaughton.

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