vacant commercial sites - do you have a vacant space?
“Urban Dream Brokerage is a must-have for Wellington - with its ability to energise locations and spaces and create a sense of fun and interest – it helps continue to make our city a special place.”
Urban Dream Brokerage (UDB) works with property owners, local government and creative practitioners to enable the temporary use of vacant commercial spaces. We act as an intermediary, managing relationships, processes and risk so that underutilised buildings can be activated in low-impact, short-term ways that support both property and city outcomes.
We help reduce the social, economic and reputational impacts of prolonged vacancy by coordinating curated, time-bound activations that increase street-level activity and public presence. UDB manages due diligence, stakeholder coordination and delivery, allowing property owners to participate in interim use without taking on additional operational or compliance burden.
Since 2013, UDB has supported over 150 projects across Wellington, developing a proven model for temporary activation that complements longer-term leasing, redevelopment and planning processes. Our work provides a flexible, low-risk way for vacant space to contribute positively to the city while remaining ready for its next commercial use.
“These vacant properties are often then seen in a new light, and leased post-event. Artists have a space for their projects which encourages diversity, a sense of community and public interaction in our cities.”
Vacant site examples: Above, ex-VLA Showroom, 149 Victoria St - Willis Bond | Below, 126 Lambton Quay - The Wellington Company
How Does it Benefit The Property?
If you have a vacant commercial space, we can help you activate it in a way that is low-risk, professionally managed and aligned with your longer-term plans.
Working with UDB can:
Reduce the negative impacts of vacancy — discourage vandalism, tagging and deterioration through regular presence and passive surveillance.
Increase street-level activity — bring foot traffic, visibility and positive public engagement to your frontage.
Protect your asset’s reputation — ensure your building contributes positively to the surrounding precinct rather than appearing neglected.
Support future leasing — activated spaces often generate interest and demonstrate potential to prospective tenants.
Require minimal input from you — UDB manages curation, coordination, compliance conversations and day-to-day liaison.
Remain flexible — all activations are temporary and structured to accommodate redevelopment or commercial leasing when required.
Urban Dream Brokerage is one of many agencies around the world who have proven the power for urban revitalisation through brokering the temporary use of space.
MEDIA STORY from The Post
other vacant space brokeRs in Aotearoa NZ & worldwide
Dunedin Dream Brokerage - sibling organisation doing great things in Ōtepoti
Life in Vacant Spaces - Established in Christchurch creative brokers
MakeShift Nelson - Helping to make the streets of Whakatū alive
Testing Grounds - Melbourne based public infrastructure for creative practices across art, performance, design and education.
Meanwhilespace - A UK nationwide programme bringing temporarily redundant space into productive use.
Theatre Deli - filling empty spaces with art and artists, creativity and community.
Empty Spaces - A NSW Australia government initiative with lots of handy resources.
Brokers - a list of empty space brokers internationally.
3Space - nifty vacant space brokers working across the UK
Givrum - A brokerage agency in Denmark.
Property: Old McDonalds, Porirua | Project: Young Visionaries | Image: Ebony Lamb