Hamilton East apartments to transform historic site

Friday, 26 January 2024

Eastbank will have four levels of apartments and a basement car park, the developer says. Pictured is an architect’s impression.

A four-storey apartment block is coming to a prominent Hamilton East site with a history stretching back to pre-European settlement.

Number 1 Puutikitiki Street is across from a former Ngaati Parekiranga pā which was later the site of the first Waikato European settlement. The section itself was more recently the site of a 1920s house which often hosted Hamilton’s underground art scene.

It’s latest change is earthworks in preparation for Eastbank, a 27-apartment complex planned for the corner of Anzac Parade, Memorial Drive and Puutikitiki Street.

Engas Development is behind the project, which project manager Steve Currie said would have a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.

Overall, there will be about 4000m² of habitable living areas in the building.

Hamilton East has “a great little vibe going”, says Engas Development project manager Steve Currie.

It’ll also have an underground garage, as there isn’t much land available for above-ground parking.

Currie’s not yet willing to release a potential price of the apartments, but expects interest from people such as young professionals, or retirees looking for comfort and ease.

And while the building prep is happening, Hamilton City Council is widening surrounding footpaths and restoring the retaining wall in a two-birds-with-one-stone situation they say will save ratepayers money and reduce disruption.

The Engas team is working to flatten the ground of 1 Puutikitiki Street before moving on to retaining wall work.

Hamilton East has “a great little vibe going”, said Engas’s Currie, and the apartments can add to that.

“It will definitely be a good thing for the economy as far as having more foot traffic. And the things we’re doing with council with the footpath will create safer access to the city.

“I think it’s fair to say the majority of people want to live closer to Hamilton East, and have clear access to the river for exercise and recreation. And to enjoy the city.”

The site sits across from Deloitte, which was built on the site of the first European settlement in the Waikato, the Moules Redoubt. Before the settlement, it was Te Tara-ahi Paa, belonging to a sub-tribe of Ngaati Wairere called Ngaati Parekiranga.

Engas and HCC are taking care to keep the history of the site alive. Mana whenua input will be reflected in the design of the new retaining wall, and a historic plaque on the old wall is being saved for relocation.

“Some of the native trees we had here are going to be milled, and we’ll put those into the entrance of the building,” said Currie.

An archaeologist did a site assessment before they started work.

“He’s given us the all clear. There were no artefacts or anything of significance that we needed to be concerned about.”

So far, Engas has been flattening the ground to create a surface to work on.

“At the moment we’re just creating a level platform that we can work on, and then we’ll get onto constructing the retaining wall.”

“Once that’s been completed, I think people will be quite proud of what’s been done.”

This 1920s house is now gone from the site, which will host 27 apartments (file photo).

The workers will start on the retaining wall soon.

Hamilton City Council executive director of development, Chris Allen said working in with Engas was a “one-off” opportunity to save time and money.

It was easier, cheaper and less disruptive for the council to do the footpath work before the new retaining wall was built.