Recently there has been a focus on the $160 million 2.7ha 100-outlet NorthWest Shopping Centre at Westgate Town Centre in the media, with the NZ Herald referring to it as a “ghost town”.
Owner Stride Property has put retailer concerns into context in terms of the bigger picture.
The business began with NorthWest centre manager Jennifer Andrews responding to an anonymous letter circulated to some NorthWest retailers that the centre has inadequate foot count.
In response she wrote: “We would like to take this opportunity to remind you all that, should you have any business concerns at NorthWest, to approach us directly to discuss so we can provide appropriate assistance/advice tailored to your individual needs.
“As you’re aware, NorthWest is part of the overall Westgate Town Centre Development and as such we are still in the development phase. NorthWest stage two will open in October this year, which will include a dining precinct consisting of brands such as Good Brothers, Cleaver & Co, Nandos and Papparich.”
Northwest Two is located opposite the NorthWest Shopping Centre. Its construction is well under way and Stride Property expects to open it in October 2016.
On completion it will comprise four separate buildings that provide approximately 7,700sqm of additional dining, retail and office space in a purpose-built main street retail environment.
Constellation Brands has leased a quarter of NorthWest Two.
Toward the end of last year, New Zealand’s largest wine company, Constellation Brands New Zealand, signed an unconditional agreement to lease 2,200sqm of office space at NorthWest Two.
Comprising 142sqm of ground level retail space and over 2,000sqm of office space, the agreement secures 25 percent of the expected annual rent for the NorthWest Two project.
The agreement has an initial lease term of 10 years and two further terms of five years each.
Stride’s CEO Peter Alexander welcomed the signing of the agreement with Constellation Brands and said that interest in the new development had been very strong.
“The NorthWest Two project is designed to meet the needs of businesses and the growing communities of Northern and Western Auckland,” he said. “It is a complementary offering to the recently opened NorthWest Shopping Centre.
“When NorthWest Two has been completed there will be a diverse range of shopping and dining options as well as modern office space with direct access to high quality amenities.”
The centre’s owner, Stride Property, emphasised that complimentary activities are developing around the centre.
“The NorthWest Shopping Centre is the first stage of a larger development located at the Westgate Town Centre with over 40,000sqm of retail, office and commercial facilities currently under construction,” it said.
The new Zone 7 bulk retail centre by Kiwi Property is also being built and that will bring more activity to the area.
