Right in downtown Wellington, on the north-east corner of Cuba and Manners Streets stands the historic James Smiths Corner - a bustling complex of ground floor retailers and formerly the location of the James Smith Department Store which closed in 1993. Though the store was a loss to many at the time of its early 90’s closure, the site still lives on as a go-to for Wellingtonian retail therapy.
What’s not so widely known is the fact that the upper level of James Smith Corner has recently undergone several exciting changes and renovations. Among these is the construction of a dedicated floor of beautiful inner-city apartments, the joys of which will be enjoyed by several lucky tenants starting in 2020.
These apartments, recently acquired by HiAtlas, were designed from the bottom up with unique and personalised city living in mind. No two apartments in this collection are the same, having been built to accommodate for the James Smiths’ unique shape. Some feature beautifully bold exposed brick and steel bracings with original sash windows and gorgeous views over Wellington’s bustling Cuba quarter.
This entire level of the James Smiths was purpose built to accommodate ten of these gorgeous living spaces.
Each apartment features an entertainment system, a heat pump and a dining suite. The bedrooms come fitted with queen beds, bedside tables and large in-built wardrobes.
The James Smiths Corner comprises of five buildings. The original building was constructed in 1907 for an ironmonger named George Winder. As a result, the site was known as ‘Winder’s Corner’ for the first 13 years of its existence. It wasn’t until the building was purchased in 1920 by James Smith Ltd. that the location started to become known as James Smiths Corner. The late James Smith died in 1902, leaving his drapery business to his sons who carried on his legacy into the new century. After acquiring the CBD location, the sons opened a department store which would remain a busy shopping destination for decades to come.
The sons between 1927 and 1934 made two concrete reinforced additions to the building and refurbished the original building with a new Art Deco façade. From 1964 to 1965 two new story buildings facing Cuba Street were built.
When the store closed in 1993, James Smiths Corner would become a marketplace that housed various retail tenants - not dissimilar to the busy shopping complex we see today.
In late 2018 the fourth floor was gutted and designed from scratch to become the unique and beautiful HiAtlas apartments which are now ready for use.
The spaces are very conspicuously steeped in their own rich history, with the brick and iron interiors crafted into a feature rather than covered up. Some of the original doorways and window frames have even been preserved to showcase the respect that the architects had for the building and the importance it holds as one of Wellington’s most prestigious shopping districts.
These apartments are available for move in as of January 2020 and come with a wide variety of appliances and furnishing options. As always, HiAtlas offer customisable move in terms, meaning tenants can pick and choose how their apartment looks upon arrival.
The units vary in size to accommodate any kind of tenant - from four-bedroom family apartments to smaller spaces perfect for a single or a couple.
Tenants at the James Smith Corner apartments will enjoy light, bright rooms with views over the city and instant access to Wellington’s vibrant Cuba quarter. Shops, cafes, theatres and eateries are only a few minutes walk, with Kent Terrace or Lambton Quay shopping hubs only a short bus ride away.
These new apartments offer the premium in Wellington CBD living. Any interested prospective tenants should contact HiAtlas right away to secure a viewing while units are still available. Visit the contact page or look for individual apartment profiles on the properties page of the website for more information.