Progress made on fewer fees and flourishing flora

Visionary Hamilton developer Matt Stark is putting more skin in the game and taking the city to new heights with a $100m-plus investment in the Federated Farmers block.

It’s the latest Stark Properties development, and Stark says the “well over $100 million” project is part of their investment in making Hamilton a “great place to live and work”.

The Waikato Farmer Trust announced the sale of its property portfolio to Stark Property on Tuesday.

The significant 12,094m² landholding includes the six-storey Farmer Trust building, existing tenanted buildings, car-parks and vacant land.

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A recent deal between Tainui and a big US investor shows how Hamilton and its surrounds are on an economic roll say business and political leaders.

And others from outside the region are also knocking on the door, says the mayor.

Tainui Group Holdings’ agreement with major international asset manager Brookfield Asset Management is set to provide $1 billion-plus benefits for developing the Ruakura Superhub in a major boost for Hamilton, the Waikato and the wider country.

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As vacancy across the CBD rises, a new kind of workplace is taking shape - softer, more flexible, and built around how people actually want to work.

Over the second half of 2024, office vacancy in Hamilton’s CBD rose from 7.2% to 9.0%.

While the numbers point to contraction - with occupied space falling by 9,300m2 in just six months - they also reflect a transformation in how and where people want to work.

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Hot shot Hamilton property developer Matt Stark has scooped up the old Fed Farmers building in London Street.

Stark Property has bought all of the Waikato Farmer Trust’s property assets for sale on the site, a sizeable chunk on the west end of London Street opposite Seddon Park.

The Trust announced on Tuesday that they’ve sold their commercial properties which included parking lots, commercial properties and the 6-storey office building on London Street to Stark Property.

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