Auckland Council has agreed to explore the sale of downtown's Queen Elizabeth Square as part of a proposed commercial property development.
The agreement does not commit the council to selling to the developer Precinct Properties but several councillors described Thursday's move as hasty.
Precinct owns all the buildings on one side of the square, and is proposing a new 36 storey office block, as well as a three-level retail block.
It said it would provide rooftop space for the public on a three-storey building it proposed building on part of the site.
But Councillor Chris Darby said the decision was being made in isolation, without knowing what the city's own plans for public transport or alternative public space were.
