58 | Value and design key for firm The three storey, two building development on Sainsbury Road comprises 10 boutique townhouses. DEVELOPMENT I am Developer T T Kelly Deeks With backgrounds in design, property investment and development, and a comprehensive understanding of the Auckland Unitary Plan, design consultancy I Am Developer is unlocking the potential in the next generation of property developers and their sections with a tailored package of services that creates best value for developers, residents, and communities alike. Starting in 2018 as a response to the recently released Auckland Unitary Plan, I Am Developer founders Jessica Driver and Thomas Ward wanted to help developers moving into the uncharted waters of medium-density project typologies. He is an architectural designer and she a fine arts graduate – these entrepreneurs are creatives who have completed their own small scale residential development projects. They saw a gap in the market for a service that combined the design of a development with a tailor-made development strategy, including detailed feasibility reports and financial analysis. “Architects have a bad name for running away with costs, and developers have a bad name for trying to do everything cheap and cheerful,” Thomas says. “We like to sit in the middle. We can produce projects with a nice design aesthetic and plenty of amenity without the high end finishes and high price tag. Experimenting with colours and textures can elevate a project quite substantially above probably 80% of what is being built today.” I Am Developer has delivered about 100 projects in six years and is currently doing a lot of feasibility work for future developments. Thomas says feasibility is a great starting point for any development, and I Am Developer provides detailed reports to set a project off on the right footing. “In the current economy, residential property development is for anyone looking for alternative ways of bringing in a bit of capital or increasing their cashflow. They may be sitting on some land or have other properties that might not be performing very well. We are helping people to understand what they could potentially do on their land, and put them on a pathway to achieving their goals.” If every piece of land has untapped potential, I Am Developer will help to unlock it. “There is a way to find the right strategy that will get the right outcome and produce nice homes with great amenity at the same time. We are packaging all the information together to give you the best head start on your project. Our feasibility reports are packed full of all the information you need to unlock the value in your site, including a high level break down of all the costs associated with the project from start to finish.” I Am Developer has recently provided its full range of services for the highly successful Mesa Morningside project on Sainsbury Road. A three-storey, two-building development comprising 10 boutique townhouses, Mesa Morningside was a step up in scale for the developer as well as for Thomas and Jessica. Harking back to Morningside’s industrial heritage with red brick, dark aluminium tray, and concrete render, these stunning residences fit in and stand out. With two-bedrooms, ensuites, and walk-in-robes on the upper levels, residents get to sleep in the treetops with views across Auckland city, or its volcanic tips, or the Waitakere Ranges. The mid-floor living space is generously proportioned at 5m wide with a 2.7m stud, and outdoor living that captures both sun and privacy. The lowest floor provides even more amenity with an additional bedroom/office for the many now WFH. Thomas says this is an example of three-storeyed terraced housing done well, providing a great return to the developer, loads of amenity for residents, and a beautiful benchmark for the continued medium-density development of Auckland’s city suburbs. Bring beauty to the exterior of your next project, with Dimond’s lowmaintenance range of roofing and cladding profiles. Style with durability and proudly displayed for the world to see. Design engineered. dimond.co.nz
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