In the past fortnight the retired St Leonards farmer has put up for sale the first six sections of a 13-block lifestyle subdivision on rural property overlooking Otago Harbour.
It has taken Mr Leslie 14 years and a $650,000 investment to bring the subdivision to fruition.
So wintry weather and a flat property market were not going to stop him putting the 1.2ha to 3.6ha sections out to market as soon as they were ready, he said.
"I've often felt like giving up, but I have committed so much money to it, I've had to keep going," Mr Mitchell said.
"I would have preferred spring, but it's a select market we're aiming for, so it doesn't really matter."
That select market will include people with between $249,000 and $275,000 to spend on buying a section and an eye for a "spectacular" view.
The block highest up the hill, about 200m above sea level, has views from Taiaroa Head to St Clair.
"It's handy to town. St Leonards has its own school and yacht club and the cycle track is being put through now ... And then there's the view, which is spectacular.
"I imagine people will want to replant some of the native bush and have a horse for the children or run a few sheep, because the price of sheep [meat] has gone through the roof."
