A survey conducted in April 2015 found the occupancy rate of Invercargill's central business district to be at its lowest point since 2003, and several buildings were assessed to be earthquake-prone.

[2][3] In March 2017, the Invercargill City Council and HWR Group formed HWCP Management Limited with the purpose of redeveloping the CBD.

[4] Later that year, they purchased 90% of properties on the CBD block bordered by Esk, Dee, Don, and Kelvin Streets,[5] including the former The Southland Times building.

[18] Stage one opened on 14 July 2022, with Farmers, Glassons, Amazon, Michael Hill, Pascoes Jewellery, Merchant 1948, Pagani, 2degrees, Mobile King, Mister Minit, and 300 carparks.

The Coffee Club, Just Cuts, EB Games, and Cotton On opened in the following weeks,[19] with Flawless Face and Beauty expected in late October.

[27] Other fashion outlets include Merchant 1948, Pagani, Hallensteins, Glassons, Amazon, Pascoes, Michael Hill Jeweller, Lovisa Jewellery, a Cotton On megastore, and a combined Max and Barkers store.

[29] Additionally, Invercargill Central purchased the Reading Cinemas building on Dee Street, which will be refurbished to have an entrance from the mall.