Auckland Downtown Car Park to be redeveloped

Drivers in the city centre of Auckland may soon be left struggling to find a place to park as the Downtown Car Park is set to be redeveloped.

Property developer Precinct Properties today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Eke Panuku Development Auckland to turn the car park into two new high-rise buildings linked by a centralised podium.

That means New Zealand’s biggest city will lose just under 2000 spaces in one of its most bustling areas.

The Downtown Car Park is located on the corner of Customs and Lower Albert Street, across the road from Viaduct Harbour which is home to a number of bars and restaurants, as well as accommodation. It’s also a prime parking area for the Commercial Bay shopping mall and surrounding areas like Queen Street.

While it’s unknown how much of an impact the redevelopment will have on nearby businesses, it may cause a slight headache for those driving into the city.

Auckland Transport will continue to operate the car park until the end of 2025 as demolition cannot commence before 30 April of the same year.

Other factors like demand, feasibility, and the consenting process may have an impact on the development’s timeline as well.

Precinct Properties has agreed to purchase the site for $122 million and is already undertaking design work on the two buildings that will be host to office and accommodation space, as well as areas for retail, hospitality, and the public.

Reports suggest that a few hundred short-stay car parks will be implemented into the new development, but only a fraction of what is there today.