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HAM ILTON
REVIVING THE CBD
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NEW ZEALAND’S PROPERTY VOICE
ABOUT US
OUR BRANCHES
Property Council is a member-led, not-for-profit
organisation offering a collective voice for the commercial
property industry. Our members include owners, investors,
managers, and developers of office, retail, industrial
and residential properties, central and local government
agencies and other property professionals.
Property Council has a national presence. Branch Executive
Committees govern our branch and chapter offices in
Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Wellington,
Canterbury, and Otago.
For more information visit www.propertynz.co.nz
WHAT WE DO
Our broad membership of more than 700 companies
requires us to consider all aspects of the built environment,
and we promote sound policies and requirements that
benefit New Zealand as a whole. We advocate for quality
urban growth that supports strong national and local
economies. We strive to serve our members through
research, policy development, advocacy, education and
networking event programmes nationally and regionally,
raising the industry profile as we go.
WAIKATO BRANCH
P O Box 335
Waikato Mail Centre
Hamilton 3240
PH
EM
+64 7 210 1535
tracey@propertynz.co.nz
NATIONAL OFFICE
P O Box 1033
Shortland Street
Auckland 1140
Corporate Sponsors
PH
FX
EM
+64 9 373 3086
+64 9 379 0781
enquiries@propertynz.co.nz
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CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
FOREWORD4
INTRODUCTION6
RECOMMENDATIONS8
HCC: A BOLD AND INNOVATIVE ENABLER
10
A CBD MASTERPLAN
12
HCC as an Enabler
Being Bold
Economic Development Opportunities
The Public Realm
Built form
10
11
13
13
14
03
Urban design
Character Zones
Housing density
15
15
15
AN EMPOWERED URBAN DESIGN PANEL
16
CBD BOARD: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP
17
Business Improvement District
17
CREATING AN EFFECTIVE HAMILTON
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION
18
RELEVANT RESEARCH AND DATA
TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS
19
CONCLUSION20
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LET’S ACT NOW
Hamilton is at the cusp of change. We have an opportunity
to act now and plan for growth in a way that balances
urban sprawl with a thriving urban heart. Making bold
moves now will future-proof Hamilton to attract residents,
businesses, retailers, families and visitors, each with
changing 21st century needs.
The alternative – inaction or ill-thought planning – will see
other cities take its place, capitalising on those looking for
investment opportunities outside Auckland.
Property Council is hugely vested in Hamilton’s success.
Rejuvenating the CBD will not only reap rewards for
developers, businesses and CBD residents, it will have
flow-on effects to the wider city and regional economies.
Globally, people are becoming more engaged with their
cities and the issues facing them. People want information
about what is happening and how, and they want a say on
how to make their city a better place to be.
Let’s get the discussion going in Hamilton. We have
created this CBD Manifesto to spark debate, bold thinking
and most importantly, action. We’re taking the lead and
asking others to join us, working together for a better
urban environment.
Rob Dol
Waikato Branch President
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TOGETHER, WE’RE
CREATING BETTER CITIES
As a membership organisation representing the commercial
property industry across New Zealand, we’re insisting on
a more pro-development culture in Government and Local
Government – one that insists on greater leadership and
courageous decision-making.
By recognising the benefit and spin-offs of rejuvenation in
areas like Hamilton’s CBD, Hamilton City Council must also
understand development – the levers, incentives, timing,
and scale. It must also understand how planning roadblocks
work to deter, delay and add cost to development.
We’re calling for better, closer relationships, bold, innovative
thinking and a fresh approach to funding methods so that
together, Hamilton’s public and private sectors can attract
and leverage off investment to make a better city.
Over the years, our Waikato Branch has shown great
leadership, dedication and a desire to work with local
government officials to improve not only Hamilton’s,
but the wider Waikato economy.
This manifesto is another proactive, solutions-based call to
action. Join us and take part in shaping
the future of Hamilton.
Connal Townsend
Chief Executive
Property Council New Zealand
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INTRODUCTION
Cities exist in a natural state of flux. How they respond
to this determines whether they evolve and grow, or
decline. Both internationally and nationally, the future of
fast-growing cities is being determined by a number of
factors. Some New Zealand cities, like Auckland, Hamilton
and Tauranga, have experienced structural changes to
the economy; a move from a primary industry to a service
industry based economy, with resulting changes in
employment, better amenity, and education and housing
opportunities. Despite these success stories, a number
of regional New Zealand cities, whose heyday are now
behind them, are now struggling for investment and
relevancy in the ever-changing economic, political and
social environment we live in.
Hamilton is experiencing significant change and growth
in its northern and eastern suburbs - a reflection of
both the private and public sectors’ confidence in the
city’s economy. The Central Business District (CBD), is
languishing. Issues like alternative retail development,
ageing building stock, changing consumer behaviour,
and poor transport options have led to Hamilton’s
CBD hollowing out. It is no longer the primary place for
residents and tourists to visit, work, shop and socialise in.
Stakeholders have previously failed to either understand
or respond to these issues in time. The negative flow-on
effects are obvious; dispersed employment activities, antisocial behaviour, decreased investment, and fewer people
in the CBD, leading to less support for retail and hospitality.
The CBD also faces a number of barriers that make it less
desirable than other areas of Hamilton. These include
small and fragmented landholdings as well as multiple
land ownership that can deter amalgamation, high land
costs and a sustained lack of investment by many CBD
property owners over the last 10 to 15 years.
Despite these issues and barriers, Hamilton and the
Waikato are on the cusp of significant change, an exciting
period of transformation and unprecedented economic
opportunity. Waikato, Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty,
make up the “Golden Triangle”, which will be the economic
powerhouse of New Zealand over the coming decades. We
can no longer wait for the CBD to regress completely and
then allow the market to control its renewal. Now is the time
to action bold and innovative ideas.
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Property Council New Zealand’s Waikato Branch, Hamilton City Council (HCC), and a number of other stakeholder
groups want a revitalised and thriving CBD, which:
• enhances the positive perceptions of Hamilton
• provides a strong economic centre for the Waikato
• offers a dynamic cultural, social and tourist hub for Hamilton
HCC, together with the private sector, can achieve and implement our proposed ideas. HCC’s previous strategies and
plans relating to the CBD, whether through a lack of funding or political will, were poorly implemented or in some cases,
not implemented at all.
HCC needs to work and consult with the private sector on development and business. Working in partnership creates
an opportunity for the best people from local government and the private sector to create and implement bold and
innovative policies. Four areas of Hamilton’s CBD need focus:
• commercial (how to stimulate development and the economy of the CBD)
• physical (developing enabling policies to rejuvenate buildings and the streetscape)
• political (developing the right mix of strategies and regulations to enable rejuvenation)
• social (providing a safe CBD, while at the same time developing an identity that draws from Hamilton’s heritage
and future).
Various stakeholders need to come together on these areas, which reflect the acute need for HCC and the private sector
to work in greater collaboration than they have previously. Action is needed!
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RECOMMENDATIONS
This Manifesto addresses six key recommendations critical to the growth and rejuvenation of the CBD. The
Property Council is calling on Hamilton’s political leaders and policy makers, and the private sector and wider
community to coordinate action for the future of the CBD.
We want the CBD to be the heart of Hamilton, and the Waikato.
1.
2.
HCC: A Bold and Innovative Enabler
HCC enables the rejuvenation of the CBD through bold and innovative policies, regulations,
and strategies; for example, enabling greater mixed-use development and medium-high
density housing in the CBD and on its fringe.
A CBD Masterplan
HCC, in conjunction with the private sector, develops a CBD masterplan. This will
deliver the vision, strategy, and policies for the rejuvenation of the CBD.
3.
An Empowered Urban Design Panel
The Urban Design Panel is empowered to provide independent and quality design review
for all developments, allowing outstanding outcomes to prevail.
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4.
5.
CBD Board: An Opportunity for Private and Public Partnership
Establish an empowered CBD Board, made up of local government and private sector members,
to shape and champion the CBD.
Creating an Effective Hamilton Economic Development Organisation
HCC and the private sector establishes a joint economic development organisation that will promote
investment, business, and development initiatives in Hamilton.
6.
Relevant Research and Data to Make Informed Decisions
HCC undertakes more objective research to make informed decisions.
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HCC: A BOLD AND
INNOVATIVE ENABLER
Cities across the world today are grappling with the
challenge of how to upgrade their CBDs and make them
relevant again.
Over the last decade, significant development in Hamilton
has taken place outside the CBD, hollowing out the city to
create a doughnut effect. Where there were once tenants,
there are now a substantial number of empty commercial
buildings in key locations. This is not new for New Zealand’s
urban centres. Tauranga, Invercargill, and pre-earthquakes
Christchurch are examples of this phenomenon. Former
Council plans are also to blame, as they contributed to
commercial development outside the CBD.
Hamilton’s CBD has stagnated and commercial property
owners are struggling to attract long-term and viable
tenants, especially those with large staff numbers. This
stagnation has been a catalyst for a range of negative
economic and social flow-on effects in the CBD.
Despite this negativity, Auckland’s “growing pains”
are an opportunity for Hamilton to seize upon. We
cannot be passive or indecisive while investors seek
alternative opportunities outside of Auckland in Tauranga,
Wellington, or Christchurch instead of choosing Hamilton.
We believe that action is essential to activate and
rejuvenate the CBD and to attract investment to Hamilton.
HCC AS AN ENABLER
If the CBD is to achieve its potential, HCC needs to
put strategies, policies and rules in place that enable
investment and development. It needs balanced rules and
trust in the private sector.
If Hamilton is to attract businesses into the CBD and
grow its economic and social prosperity then a serious
conversation needs to take place about its building stock.
The CBD is in a chicken versus egg situation. Tenants
prefer high quality office space, but commercial property
owners are unwilling to invest in their aged low-grade
buildings because of the current CBD environment.
HCC must develop targeted incentives and enablers to
allow property owners to upgrade their buildings to attract
tenants. While we support incentives like the Hamilton City
Historic Heritage Fund in principle, we believe HCC needs
to do more. In particular, we advocate for a rates rebate
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scheme while building owners are undertaking upgrades or
earthquake strengthening. Other incentives can be explored.
In some cases the sheer cost of upgrading or
strengthening outweighs all else. Owners should be able
to demolish their buildings, particularly as demolition
is the first step in a redevelopment process. New
developments offer the opportunity for bold, innovative
new design-particularly if an empowered Urban Design
Panel is effectively used. HCC must enable building
owners to make the necessary decisions around
demolition. We need outcome focused planning and
consents for projects that will contribute to the good of
the CBD.
BEING BOLD
Hamilton’s CBD needs boldness and innovation to arrest its
stagnation. Property Council supports HCC thinking outside
the square and looking at the following short-term options
(1-5 years) to kick-start the rejuvenation of the CBD:
• Consolidate the CBD and enable mixed use
development, like apartments or townhouses on its
fringe. A higher residential population closer to the
CBD will create demand for central city amenities.
• Sell under-utilised HCC land for private
development. Under-utilised land is not providing
benefit for HCC or for the wider community.
• Enlarge Victoria Street South and Hood Street
nto the Waikato’s prominent entertainment and
lifestyle precinct.
•
Advocate for greater connectivity with tertiary
providers in the Waikato. This will draw more
students into the central city from the isolated
existing campuses, who will increase diversity
and population in the CBD.
• Encourage a family-friendly CBD for tourists and
residents. This is an inexpensive way to draw
people into the CBD.
• Further the opportunities for public private
partnership and joint ventures.
• Provide active edges around Civic Square including
Garden Place to encourage vitality and invite public
participation in the space.
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Hamilton is a city of entrepreneurship:
a city with a history of people who
challenge glass ceilings and think
outside the square.
A CBD MASTERPLAN
Hamilton needs a masterplan for its CBD that provides a robust vision for the future and certainty for stakeholders. The vision
needs to build on what makes Hamilton great and have an inter-generational timeframe with key deliverables per decade.
A CBD Masterplan will need to be closely aligned with HCC’s other strategic priorities, policies and rules. Clear milestones,
direction and accountability will give the private sector and the wider community long-term confidence and certainty.
Property Council believes that a CBD Masterplan needs to focus on the following strategies and outcomes:
• Economic development opportunities
• The public realm
• Built form
• Urban design
• Character zones
Underpinning this focus is the need for:
• Providing a strong long-term vision that provides brand identity for the CBD
• Developing and providing the means to implement key urban rejuvenation projects
• Having robust synergies with other HCC planning, policy and strategy documents
• Providing means to improve the liveability and sustainability of the CBD
• Using robust and objective research and data in its development and the projects, policies and strategies
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Hamilton is a city of entrepreneurship: a city with a history
of people who challenge glass ceilings and think outside
the square. Whether it is in dairy farming advancements,
politics, culture, or sports, Hamilton punches above its
weight. We need to continue this tradition by offering a
CBD that attracts international and innovative business,
creates opportunities for the talent trained at our tertiary
education facilities, and provides employment for our
retail, cultural and tourist sectors. These industries
provide the building blocks for developing the wealth of
Hamilton’s CBD, Hamilton, and the entire Waikato.
What will enable these industries to grow is a robust and
stimulated property market. The CBD needs to be open
for development. HCC needs to enable development
and planning rules that will foster a market that is
attractive for investment. Property Council recommends
that HCC explores ways to streamline processes that will
enable innovative and significant developments in the
CBD to ensure Hamilton is competitive both regionally
and nationally.
THE PUBLIC REALM
With the Waikato River, lake, world-renowned gardens and
a range of parks and cycle trails at the CBD’s doorstep,
Hamilton is a city designed for the open-air lifestyle. Yet it fails
to utilise these attractions through poor connectivity. Hamilton
prides itself on the Waikato River, but the CBD does not
enable easy access to it. We acknowledge the work that HCC
has undertaken with its River Plan and welcome its focus on
improving access from the CBD to the Waikato River. The
River Plan is not a silver bullet for the CBD; it needs to be
treated as a separate plan that supports and is aligned to the
CBD Masterplan
The CBD Masterplan should provide more detail than
the River Plan, which focuses on the interaction between
the Waikato River and all of Hamilton. In particular, the
masterplan needs to encourage and incentivise laneways
for development or rejuvenation that connect the CBD
and the Waikato River. Laneways offer opportunities
to leverage economic growth. It is crucial that
redevelopment occurs at the river’s edge, parks and HCC
owned access ways, to improve connectivity.
We also support the development of additional shared spaces
throughout the CBD. Over the last few years, shared spaces
have provided the impetus for rejuvenation and economic
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growth in key precincts of Auckland’s CBD. HCC must allow
for and enable bold and innovative urban design.
The CBD needs a dynamic civic space. Whether it is
for special events, informal activities, celebrations or as
an open space to walk through, civic spaces must be
dynamic, flexible, and resilient, with active, open edges. In
its current form, Garden Pace, adjacent to Civic Square,
fails to provide this. For the CBD to rejuvenate, it is crucial
that these civic spaces undergo significant change to
reflect Hamilton, its heritage and future.
While we welcome HCC’s focus on improving connections
along the Waikato River, we believe they should focus
on those directly near the CBD first, for example Ferry
Bank. There is a risk that spreading funding over too many
projects along a geographical distance will reduce the
benefits of these investments. By concentrating funding
in or close to the CBD, HCC will maximise the return on
investment and deliver an efficient, and quality outcome.
BUILT FORM
HCC must implement a clear and concise District Plan
that enables CDB development and investment. We
acknowledge and support policies and protocols for
quality urban design. However, there is a fine line between
enabling and overly restricting. Property Council believes
that HCC is giving the development community mixed
messages. For example, there are no development
contributions for CBD projects, but there are a range of
planning rules and consenting practices deterring CBD
investment. HCC needs to focus on how it can encourage
development that aligns with the overall vision of the CBD.
Property Council supports the upkeep, protection and
refurbishing of quality heritage buildings to celebrate the
past and contribute to the future. In Hamilton however,
low-grade office buildings dominate the CBD streetscape,
many of which are empty, attracting low rents and
have limited heritage value. We should not see building
demolition or repurposing as a problem, but as a solution.
Cities evolve, and property owners should be able to
demolish buildings with limited heritage value that are illsuited to the changing needs of the CBD and its tenants
(many of whom are seeking A or B grade office space).
An empowered Urban Design Panel should provide a
mechanism to make sure that quality development does
take place.
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URBAN DESIGN
Property Council believes quality urban design is more
than an aspirational outcome for the CBD - it must be a
necessity. To achieve this, urban design can also support
the development and redevelopment of new and existing
buildings. This will enable property owners and tenants
to maximise the efficiency of space, and improve the
liveability of places.
HCC must develop incentives to encourage building
owners, developers, and investors to meet or exceed
quality urban design outcomes that will provide a bold
and innovative urban environment for Hamilton. One of
the ways that HCC can do this is through empowering the
Urban Design Panel.
CHARACTER ZONES
In Property Council’s Initiatives for Hamilton publication,
we called for the CBD to be divided into specific zones for
employment, education, commercial, cultural, and social
activities. We repeat this call to action. These zones would
become focal points in a flourishing CBD, and provide
opportunities for people to combine activities like visiting
the Waikato Museum, shopping, or having dinner. People
will visit a flourishing CBD that has a mix of cultural and
entertainment focal points, is clean and safe and has a
dynamic aesthetic.
HOUSING DENSITY
To complement these zones, we also support mixed-use
development, like apartments or townhouses, in underutilised buildings or land, which will increase the demand
for better CBD amenities.
The way urban New Zealanders choose to live is changing.
The idea of a quarter acre paradise of fifty years ago is
evolving and a culture change is occurring. The market
for dense living (whether townhouses or apartments)
is growing and includes younger generations of New
Zealanders, immigrants and older people downsizing.
Residential development is riskier than commercial
development. Therefore HCC needs to incentivise
residential development to mitigate those risks, for
example remove minimum car parking requirements and
reduce the financial contributions. These actions would
help to stimulate residential living in the CBD enormously,
and in turn the economic and social vibrancy of the CBD.
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AN EMPOWERED
URBAN DESIGN PANEL
Property Council believes that HCC
must empower its Urban Design
Panel to offer more guidance and
services for developers to rejuvenate
or build new buildings. Currently, we
do not believe that HCC allows the
Urban Design Panel to achieve its full
potential. We would like to see the
Urban Design Panel able to:
• Provide additional urban design
experience during the
development proposal process
• Allow rule exceptions where the
outcome is positive for the city
• Assist in developing a
successful and attractive
CBD for the community
• Potentially minimise time delays
for lodged resource consent
applications by assisting to
resolve complex issues early
on in the design process, prior
to lodgement
• Independently peer
review projects
To achieve its full potential, the Urban
Design Panel must work under robust
guidelines to make sure its decisionmaking processes are consistent. The
Urban Design Panel should be unable
to say “no” to a project but instead
would find a way to say “yes”, including
offering alternative design suggestions.
A positive relationship between the
development community and an
empowered Urban Design Panel
will benefit the wider community.
One of the national issues facing
the property industry is a lack of
consistency and in some cases the
relevant planning and consenting
Local Government officers providing
contradicting advice. An empowered
Urban Design Panel can provide
consistent advice and co-ordination
between different Local Government
departments during the consenting
process. The Urban Design Panel will
be able to provide guidance on how
the development proposal fits within
HCC’s statutory and non-statutory
plans and strategies, like the District
Plan and the CBD Masterplan.
For the Property Council, urban
design must be at the forefront of all
projects. Quality urban design does
not necessary follow a rulebook;
therefore an empowered Urban
Design Panel must encourage and
reward innovative projects enhance
the CBD.
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CBD BOARD: AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP
Business differential rating is unfair for commercial property
ratepayers as it is not transparent and can be a disincentive
for investment. Property Council advocates for business
differentials to be abolished and replaced with a targeted
CBD rate, to get more value from the rates spend.
In order to achieve greater transparency and accountability
of the CBD rate expenditure, we support the establishment
of a CBD Board, with a mixture of Local Government,
commercial and residential property and other private
sector and community ratepayer representation. The CBD
Board should be the key advisor to HCC on:
• Assisting to plan, develop, shape, implement and
monitor the delivery of relevant policies and strategies
of HCC
• Acting as think tank and sounding board on CBD
transformation projects
• Providing leadership on CBD projects that are funded
by the CBD targeted rate
• Ensuring quality and value for money in all urban
rejuvenation projects, from inception to completion
• Acting as the CBD Champion for Hamilton and the
Waikato region
For the CBD Board to work effectively, it is crucial that there
is an effective and strong relationship between the Board
and HCC. Furthermore, HCC must have a dedicated team
of officers who support the functioning of the Board and the
decisions that it makes. These officers must also provide
the connection to the relevant HCC strategies, policies, and
rules to avoid issues that may arise.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
The newly empowered Urban Design Panel will act
as one arm of the CBD Board. The existing Business
Improvement District (BID), with a focus on improving the
retail business environment, will be the other. As a vehicle
for retailers to co-ordinate activities and strategies, the
BID will help to make the CBD more attractive to shoppers
and increase visitor numbers. The BID will help provide
Hamiltonians with a reason to come to the CBD and
explore it, as well as helping to turn around the perception
and reality that the CBD has stagnated.
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CREATING AN EFFECTIVE
HAMILTON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION
Over the next 30 years, forecasts
show Hamilton undergoing profound
economic and social change
alongside population growth. These
changes will place significant pressure
on existing infrastructure as well as
requiring new capital infrastructure
investment and the subsequent
ongoing operating expenditure.
Added to this, are funding issues. In
particular, how do we make sure that
crucial issues like value for money,
project choice, equity, revenue
sources are critically assessed?
Hamilton also competes with other
major centres like Auckland and
Tauranga for investment. If potential
businesses receive better service
delivery, cost-effectiveness and a
positive inviting environment, they
are more likely to invest in Hamilton.
With Auckland forecasted to
experience “growing pains” as
the city grapples with an everincreasing population and pressures
on underdeveloped infrastructure,
Hamilton, and its CBD, has an
opportunity to sell itself as a better
investment option than Auckland.
Property Council supports a Hamilton
Economic and Development
Organisation, a partnership between
HCC and the private sector.
We believe that the aim of this
organisation should be to:
• stimulate economic growth and
development in Hamilton
• enable efficient, effective and
affordable infrastructure
• develop a thoroughly efficient and
integrated planning process that is
flexible and robust enough to
manage the future growth of the city
• enhance the lifestyles of all
Hamiltonians
By working in partnership, HCC
and the private sector can assess
the infrastructure and development
needs of a growing Hamilton to
future proof wherever possible.
This partnership must enable
the mechanisms for economic
growth by providing appropriate,
affordable, and flexible commercial
and industrial zonings and planning
provisions.
Property Council supports a quality
working relationship based on
mutual trust between HCC and
the private sector to make sure
that the organisation reaches its
potential. Positive collaboration
is the key, between not only HCC
and the private sector but also the
organisation and the community.
It is crucial that the organisation
develops on-going engagement with
the community to create awareness,
support, and understanding of what it
is trying to achieve.
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RELEVANT RESEARCH
AND DATA TO MAKE
INFORMED DECISIONS
In an increasingly competitive economic and social
environment, people require information to make informed
business and personal decisions. Crucially, there is a lack
of available economic data and modelling about Hamilton
for potential investors. Without this information, Hamilton
could miss investment opportunities. Property Council
would like to see HCC obtain the following data on a
regular basis:
• How much shoppers spend and where
• Regular and up to date pedestrian counts throughout
the CBD
• What do office workers do in their lunch breaks
• Work place demographics
• What are the employee absenteeism rates for Grade
A & B buildings compared to lower grades
• Up to date CBD valuations to analyse historical
and future trends
• The ownership demographics on CBD properties
Partnership with local tertiary education providers and
researchers could help source some of the data mentioned
above. This information would provide insight into the
economic and social trends in the CBD and help to assist
decision-makers. The information would also benefit
retailers, business owners, real estate agents, developers,
investors, planners in ascertaining the right business
approaches and decisions to take, which ultimately will
benefit the ratepayer as a consumer in the CBD.
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Positive collaboration is the key
between HCC, the private sector
and the community.
CONCLUSION
Hamilton is on the cusp of exciting period of growth and development, but it is crucial that its CBD is not left behind.
The opportunity for bold and innovative visions, plans, projects, and strategies to rejuvenate the CBD exists today. HCC
and the private sector must work together to release the full potential of this opportunity. Time for less talk and more
action and bold decisions!
Bold initiatives will pay off in the long term and Property Council recommends:
• HCC takes an enabling perspective in
allowing CBD rejuvenation with a focus
on desired outcomes in the medium to
long term and offering a supportive
regulatory environment
• An economic development organisation is
established, that works with the market
and attracts and promotes investment in
the whole city
• A CBD Board
• HCC works with the private sector
more on any initiatives involving business
and development
• An empowered Urban Design Panel
• Retail co-ordination and assistance
• More research and data to make
informed decisions
• Mixed-use development and
medium-high density housing in
the CBD and on its fringe
• The creation of a CBD Masterplan for
the city that will create key milestones
and priorities that can be measured
and monitored
• The creation of a strong vision, which
includes a view to the long-term, and
brand identity
• Improved connectivity
• A keen understanding of what Hamilton
and the Waikato want and aspire to for its
CBD and regional capital
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We all need to think about micro and macro solutions, for example:
• How can we take more advantage of
the road infrastructure investment in
the Waikato
• How can we develop more student living
options into the city
• What can the city do to assist and
encourage educational tourism
• There is significant overseas funding
coming into the country at present, what
are we doing to attract this funding into
the Waikato
• There needs to be better balance between urban
sprawl and density. For too long the focus is on urban
sprawl. There needs to be greater encouragement of
mixed-use developments and density in the city.
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