City set to soar with riverside refresh

Saturday, 29 April 2023

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams overlooking the new Waikato Regional Theatre construction site.

An Auckland developer is set to transform downtown Hamilton’s retail, entertainment and hospitality sector.

Templeton Group is understood to be in confidential negotiations with the city council over a new riverside refresh in the CBD adjoining Victoria on the River.

Once confirmed, the job is set to involve the redevelopment of somewhat tired buildings, including the Nivara Lounge, and a mix of restaurants and other businesses.

Assuming Templeton is successful, it’s expected to lead the building of a multi-storey mixed-use development on the site, including underground parking, ground and first floor retail, hospitality and commercial space.

Happy people enjoying Victoria on the River.

Once completed the development will link the new Regional Theatre and Victoria on the River, turbocharging inner city vibrancy and vastly expanding the hospitality and entertainment precinct at the southern end of Victoria Street.

The news comes as several big dollar building developments in the inner city steam ahead. The $80 million-plus Waikato Regional Theatre is due for completion next year, progress is being made on the CBD’s Union Square project and the NZ Blood building, while the ACC Buildings in Tristram St opened earlier this month.. Meanwhile, the big MADE markets development in Hamilton East is also ploughing ahead and is due to be completed before the end of the year.

For the new riverside development, keenly interested local commentators know what they’d like to see emerge on what is a prime site, one where the right revamp could add substantially to a new inner city.

The next phase of the riverside development involves s swathe of new buildings from the theatre to Victoria on the River.

This development will involve council-owned buildings – currently valued at $7.4 million for rating purposes – from 242-266 Victoria St.

Former Hamilton mayoral candidate and Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive Chris Simpson handles corporate affairs and external engagement for Templeton, and will no doubt provide it with good local insights.

His partner Dani Simpson, who handles media queries for Templeton, said the firm is not commenting on whether it is the unnamed “preferred developer” the council has said it is negotiating with over site development.

Former Hamilton mayoral candidate and Waikato Chamber of Commerce CEO Chris Simpson is involved with Templeton Group.

But Stuff reliably understands Templeton is in that position based on information from a range of sources. The firm’s website illustrates an extensive track record of projects.

The council has also been playing its cards close to its chest saying only that it’s in commercial negotiations with the preferred developer.

In March this year, it said it was likely to be several months before the outcome of those discussions is made public.

A statement last year said the council wanted a multi-storey mixed-use development on the site, including underground parking, ground and first floor retail, hospitality and commercial space.

Residential apartments would also be built on upper floors to encourage inner city living.

The council said in a statement this month that “nothing is happening overnight”.

A sign of things to come – council signage on Victoria St near the planned redevelopment site.

“This is a long process and it’s anticipated any development will take a number of years to be completed.”

Local luminaries with an interest in development are watching closely.

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams wants any new development to be “a big upgrade for the city, to have that impact”.

Notable examples of high impact new work included Union Square, the ACC buildings and NZ Blood, Williams said.

“That needs to keep happening in the central city,” she said, “…that lift, that high-design value.”

“They’re places being built for people that will be enduring.”

She wasn’t keen on anything that might be out of date within a decade

Councillor Geoff Taylor at Victoria on the River – he doesn’t want any new development to shut the river off from the city.

“It needs a future focus and to be enduring for generations to come.”

She was particularly pleased to see talk of more high-quality inner city accommodation.

“It’s on the Waikato River, it’s beautiful and we need this to be enjoyed.”

A business and hospitality side to the development would help keep it “active” with people.

Mike Neale, managing director of real estate firm NAI Harcourts, said he wanted to see something done in the short to medium term rather than wait too long.

Examples of possible initiatives were a boutique hotel and apartments.

“Something that would really activate that space would be fantastic.”

However, he cautioned against aiming too high.

“You’ve got to balance what is realistic and what is purely aspirational.”

Councillor Geoff Taylor, long an advocate of the city turning towards the river, said: “Whatever we do with a development on that spot needs to ensure open access to the river.

“I’m not sure that plonking up a huge skyscraper would be leaving a good legacy.”

Such buildings could shut down the view of the river. “Don’t we want people to access the river and enjoy it?”