Leigh community welcomes development of new business hub

Residents of popular seaside town Leigh are supporting the redevelopment of a rundown hotel by a couple who have moved to the area from Wellington.

Wellington husband and wife, Alan and Jasmin MacDonald, moved to the coastal town 79km north of Auckland this year to retire, but could not resist the renovation opportunity opposite their new home.

The former bed and breakfast owners bought the overgrown 0.8 hectare cliffside site near the local shops with a vision to reconstruct it into a community hub with a function centre, ‘coastel’ and motor home accommodation, and a fresh seafood marketplace.

Mr MacDonald said their ‘coastel’ rental accommodation will be small motel-like rooms that look “coastal chic” and feel relaxed, homely and comfortable.

“We are pretty excited about turning an old disused building into something which becomes popular, successful and has a buzz about it.”

Mr MacDonald said they are well underway with the first development stages of the two-year project.

“We’ve just finished demolition mode which is stripping out all the grotty stuff there . . . very dirty, awful work. We’re starting to get into repairing and the internal alterations.”

The new owners of the Leigh Hotel site, Jasmin and Alan MacDonald, look forward to creating a brighter future for their adopted community. Photo: Walnut Tree Bed & Breakfast website

The MacDonalds shared their plans with more than 100 interested community members at a meeting on Sunday and received positive feedback.

“Everyone thinks it’s fantastic, they’re delighted that Leigh’s going to take off . . . we can’t be happier with that response.”

Alan MacDonald speaking to the local community about his development plans for the site. Photo: Love Leigh Facebook page.

A member of the Leigh Business Community group, Jenny Enderby, said she thought the couple will do a great job of resurrecting the building which is currently an eyesore.

“It’s such a shame it was left for so long. We think it’s fabulous that the site is being tidied up.”

Locals say the Leigh Hotel was once a haven for divers visiting the area, and was frequented by residents for an evening drink. It closed down in 2006.

The site has been left vacant since, and became a graffitied overgrown building that locals say was often illegally squatted.

Mr MacDonald said he wants the finished project to complement the surrounding businesses, not compete with them.

Ms Enderby, who also runs the local Albert Street Bed and Breakfast accommodation, said the project will give more availability to the immense influx of visitors Leigh gets in summer.

“This summer we have been so short of accommodation in Leigh . . . It’s nice when you’re full to refer them to someone else.”