After opening in September 2018, The Oaks on Neville retirement village in Warkworth is already 25 per cent sold. Real Living Group director Chris Murphy says that location has made The Oaks on Neville so popular.
“Situated at 9 Queen Street Warkworth, The Oaks is right in the heart of the township. All of Warkworth’s shops, the river front, parks, doctors, the bowls club, the RSA and the vitality of Warkworth are within 200 metres of the The Oaks. This central location is novel. In contrast, most villages are some distance from town which leaves residents with the burden/stress of driving and parking and creates a separation from community,” explains Chris.
Another point of difference is a complementary electric car (VW Golf) for residents to use.
A charging station is being built in the 74 car underground carpark. Chris says that The Oaks also offers good communal facilities with an indoor lap pool, gym, lounge with billiard table, library, and café.
“Visitor comment to date is very complimentary of the quality of the finish of apartments and communal facilities. The generous spacious apartments and their light and outlook,” he says.
The Real Living Group comprises four retirement villages: Pakuranga Park Village, Remuera Gardens, Epsom Village and The Oaks on Neville.
A New Zealand owned company, The Real Living Group is owned by trusts formed by the Murphy and Kasper families.
Chris says that these two families have worked together in the retirement village industry since 1985, when Pakuranga Park Village was started, and can claim to have more industry experience than any other retirement village operator.
“The Real Living Group is one of Auckland’s largest retirement village, lifestyle providers. All of our villages offer very high quality living options and communal facilities. Though a business, we are very resident focused. We invest in open, regular communication, quality food, care, engaging and regular activity and services to meet resident needs. All of the owners are involved in a hands on way in the villages,” he says.
The Oaks project, being built by Kalmar Construction, includes two buildings – a six level building with ground floor retail, common area, library, lounge and offices with five levels of apartments above and a four level building with retail ground floor complex and three levels of apartments. A common underground basement and car parking area services both buildings.
The Oaks central location means residents are within 200m of all local amenities including parks, shops, doctors, the RSA and more.
Kalmar Construction project manager, Tim Ellery says the construction has been atypical in that the ground floor was constructed first then the basement area dug out underneath.
This was due to the high water table on the site and proximity of surrounding buildings. By firstly installing perimeter piling and capping beams this stabilised the site, he says.
It also sped up the project programme as construction could start on the apartment levels at the same time as excavating the basement.
The structural design used a steel frame with concrete rib and timber infill floor system. Tim says that The Oaks on Neville is the result of a real team effort.
“At Kalmar Construction we work collaboratively with the client and their team to complete the project on time and on budget. Projects also benefit from the experience we have from our considerable design build track record.”
Chris says that a second stage for The Oaks, including resthome and hospital care facility, is planned for the adjoining site on Neville Street, with resource consent pending.
With, currently, care facilities in two of the villages he says there are plans and consent applications before council to have both resthome and hospital level care in all of the villages.
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