'A progressive city': Porirua's old post office transformed into boutique hotel

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Porirua's old post office has been converted into a boutique hotel, in a move its developer says is a show of confidence in the city.

The Post Hotel is the latest project by The Wellington Company, who leased the three-storey building while it was renovated. The company has now purchased it for $300,000.

While the initial plan was to build residential apartments, developer Ian Cassels said the company and council decided a hotel was the best way to grow the local economy.

'Porirua is destined to pick up and run, it's looking pretty good. We're sticking with the city and we'll be investing in it quite heavily.'

**READ MORE:

* Porirua City Council loses thousands in CBD apartment deal

* Porirua to get first inner-city residential apartments 

* NZ Post building to be sold and turned into apartments** 

The New Zealand Post building opened in 1969 in Porirua's Serlby Place.

Porirua City Council bought the building in 2014, two years after postal services were relocated, for $570,000 and spent a further $180,000 on insurance, rates, resource consents and building improvements. 

In 2017, the council signed a deal with The Wellington Company agreeing they would lease the building for two years for $100,000 while completing seismic strengthening and converting it into apartments.

Cassels said Porirua would benefit from the upcoming Transmission Gully and planned developments - but the city had lacked good quality city accommodation.

'While we're first and foremost extremely centred in Wellington and think its the beginning and end of the universe, Porirua is a very good neighbour.'

The hotel was 100 per cent up to building code and commercial businesses were planned for the ground floor. The hotel would be run by Danielle Joyce and Danielle Warren.

The hotel's first guests are due to check in on Friday, with room rates set at $130 per night.