Something new – 65 Victoria Street, Alicetown

We've been building in the Hutt Valley for over a decade. Townhouses – that's been our thing. We know how to do them, we've built over 500 of them, and we think we're pretty good at it.

65 Victoria Street is something different.

It's our first apartment development. Eight apartments alongside two townhouses, all in one building, in Alicetown – one of Lower Hutt's most connected and underrated suburbs. We weren't going to do it just because we could. We did it because we found a site where apartments genuinely made sense, and we thought we could do them well.

Here's what that looks like in practice.

Why apartments, and why here

Alicetown sits right on the edge of the Lower Hutt CBD. Ava Station is a short walk away – Wellington in around 20–25 minutes. The Hutt River Trail starts basically at the end of the street. Queensgate is close. It's the kind of location where you don't need a car for daily life, which is exactly the kind of location where apartment living makes sense.

The site on Victoria Street suited a compact, community-style development – one building, shared entry, private outdoor space for every home, and a mix of apartment types that can work for different buyers. We thought a single-level apartment at $579,000 with a private balcony in this location was actually a compelling offer. We still think that.

What we're building

Ten two-bedroom homes in total. Eight are single-level apartments – some ground floor with their own deck or patio, some upper level with composite decked balconies and an elevated outlook. The two townhouses (units 3 and 4) are two-storey, with an extra bathroom, more floor area, and a bit more of the feel of a standalone home.

Design was led by Solari Architects. The brief was to make every square metre work without making the homes feel tight. Large windows, sliding doors that open right out, and a building orientation that draws in natural light. On paper those are architect words. In practice it means the homes feel genuinely bright and open when you're standing in them.

The building has a secure lobby with intercom access – something you'd expect in an apartment building, done properly. Shared garden areas give residents some green space without anyone having to maintain a section on their own.

The spec

We didn't cut corners on the fit-out just because these are apartments.

Kitchens are custom-designed by Mastercraft, with engineered stone benchtops, Blum soft-close hardware, and Panasonic appliances throughout. Bathrooms are fully tiled – floors and feature walls – with heated towel rails, under-vanity LED lighting, and larger-than-standard mirrors with integrated demisters. Wardrobes are fitted with the Elfa systems. Front doors have E-LOK smart locks.

The thermal performance is the thing we're most proud of. Thermally broken Low-E double glazing, proper insulation, and advanced intertenancy wall systems. These homes are warm in winter, quiet year-round, and genuinely energy-efficient.

Who these homes suit

We think there are a few different buyers for 65 Victoria Street.

First home buyers looking to get into ownership without stretching to a townhouse budget – the apartments start at $579,000, which makes them one of our most accessible entry points. Investors who want a well-built, low-maintenance property in a suburb with good transport links. Downsizers who want to simplify without giving up quality. And people who just want to live close to the city without paying city prices.

The mix of apartments and townhouses in the same development means there's a genuine range of options in one place.

If you want to take a look at the floorplans, specs, or interior schemes – or you just want to talk it through – Dan Green and Jessie Barrett are the people to call. Get in touch here.

Completion is set for November 2026.