11 Normanby Street BRIGHTON

Comments on 11 Normanby Street BRIGHTON

11 Normanby – is there a better home in Brighton?
 
No, seriously is there?
 
What do people want in a grand Brighton home?
 
If you were starting from scratch – only you and we are not starting from scratch, we’ve been looking for a long time – but if you were starting from scratch, what would you want in a grand Brighton home?
 
Possibly you would want a tennis court and possibly you would want something new. Well ok, you are part of the only buyer group who would not be impressed with 11 Normanby. However, looking at the renovation plans even new home buyers would re-consider, post 11’s planned renovation.  
 
If you are looking for a classic period home in Brighton, in Bayside, in Melbourne, in the world – what more would you want than 11 Normanby?
 
What would you want in a Brighton position?
 
Beach, pier, and yacht club - classic shopping strip, cinema, walking, schools, and train. Would you also want medical, dental, and a hospital?
 
Down to micro-level – would you want the best or equal best street in the area and would you want that to be heavily protected from any possible future change of character?
 
The land – would you want it flat, north rear for maximum light and perchance, if you were a car enthusiast, would you want on this same flat level, a garage to hold your cars (twice as many as new homes and four times as many as period homes)  – one that could also be a play/ entertainment area for children?  Would you want a free driveway so none of your land was taken up with unnecessary concrete – allowing for more garden?
 
So is there a better position and better block of land in Brighton? Maybe absolute beachfront but only for maybe a dozen homes and three have just sold circa $20million and some – and they are further away from the train and the shops. At 11 you can be in that beachfront location with the same views in 75 seconds walking. Your laneway allows you to access Grosvenor and use the lights onto St Kilda Street.
 
What about the property – the building and surrounds?
 
Granted, it needs some updating and some maintenance but that is small beer. Have you seen a better-boned home? The façade, when enhanced by a better colour palette and a classic matching garden will entrance a passer-by even more than it has done for me, for the last 3 decades of passing by (wondering).
 
I love an easterly light with a north leaning – it’s the way to wake up and the way to live your day. The natural warmth and then in the later afternoon 11’s orientation protects from the harsher westerly summer sun. I’m a perfect “easter with a north bent” and so is 11.
 
The home as is or post planned reno is brilliant. Friedrich, the architect, I respect totally.
 
The spaces, the light, the flow, the views, the orientation to the garden - near perfection.
 
Price
 
The one up the road was completely undersold (poor marketing) – the one down the road completely oversold (proportions, car space, price). They are not your best guides.
 
This home is a $10million now and $12million home when finished and that is said with proof, not bravado. The current market is such that if this was prepared for sale, furnished, and marketed to the public it would hit circa $10m.
 
Genuine opportunities come – a few don’t see them, a few don’t act on them, but by far the biggest number of all, is those that don’t actually get those opportunities.
 
This is one helluva opportunity.
 
Don’t miss it - it won’t repeat in a hurry, if at all.