Hamilton Mayor Andrew King says the two developers who set up a company to buy buildings between the city's newest park Victoria on the River and Embassy Park would have done it because they had a "heart for the city" like him and were not the "profiteering type".
King told the Herald he did not know commercial property developers Matt Stark and Leonard Gardner had set up a joint venture called VOTR2 WRT Ltd, but said he was confident they would only be doing it because of their passion for the city.
"And these guys aren't profiteering type guys. These guys are guys who only have a heart for the city. They wouldn't take advantage of the council like that. These guys aren't like that. These guys aren't there to hear some council direction and then come in and take advantage of it - neither of them would do that."
When asked how well he knew Fosters commercial development manager Leonard Gardner and Stark Property director Matt Stark, King said he only knew them through his role as mayor.
"I know them well enough that they are building a theatre for the city. I know them well enough that they are very good property developers. What I know about them is that they wouldn't take advantage of the city like that and I'm sure about that.