New apartment block named after beloved cafe

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

A new 138 one bedroom, one-bathroom apartment building is to be built on the site of the former Commonsense Organics store on Wakefield St.

Called Lido after the beloved Lido Café which operated in Wellington from 1990 until 2021, the new building will include a sky garden for its residents.

The apartment will range from 38sqm to 54sqm.

Watson Group chief executive officer Dave Loveridge said they were setting the initial deposit at just $10,000.

“We believe Lido represents a real opportunity and to encourage purchasers we’ve set the initial deposit requirement at only $10,000.”

He said it was designed to appeal to first-home buyers, empty nesters, regional visitors wanting a city bolt-hole and astute investors,

It will be offering a starting price from $395,000.

Architects Foster + Melville Director Angela Foster said the development featured distinctive metal screens for privacy

“At the heart of the development lies the Sky Garden, where residents can enjoy a serene escape while taking in Wellington’s skyline,” she said.

Construction is expected to begin during the last three months of next year, and is expected to take 18 months, to build. It should be completed around mid-2027.

The present owner of the site and the former owner of the Museum Hotel, situated just across the road, and Chris Parkin has committed to 20 apartments as an early investor.