Space-age development plan sends some locals into orbit

Frasers Property bought the 5.8-hectare site in July 2007 for $208 million, after the Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, approved a concept plan allowing the construction of 11 towers there.

When Frasers took its modified concept plan to a community meeting on Wednesday night, it wanted residents to notice the improvements on the original concept plan: a contemporary look for the buildings, a park on the roof of a tower, extra greenery on platforms jutting from the main building and new energy-saving features.

All that some residents saw, however, were the negatives.

"It's still too big," said David Pidcock, who lives in nearby Meagher Street. He was not impressed by plans to house 2200 people on the site, build enough office space for 6100 workers and construct 2000 parking spots.

Alexis Smith, who is also from Chippendale, said she thought the buildings were ugly.

"At least it will match UTS," she said, referring to the aesthetically challenged tower on the opposite side of Broadway. "And all these new people will be double- and triple-parked in my street."

Another Chippendale resident, Sue Bowrey, said the development would cause problems for vehicles going to the city centre.

"I think they have totally underestimated the traffic impact this will have and it looks like a giant RSL," Ms Bowrey said. "It will make the neighbourhood less socio-economically mixed."

But one local man, Milan Bellani, said he was so impressed he was thinking of buying a unit on the site. "I love the location and I think it will be a good investment but I do wonder how long it will take to build," he said.

Father John Neill, the parish priest at St Benedict's Church on Broadway, said he was initially concerned that residents might complain about the church bells ringing.

"They are the second oldest church bells in Australia and they are rung regularly with vigour. I thought, 'Oh dear, that could be a problem for residents', but this plan has mainly office people on the church side.

"I like the greening and softening of the building design and I am pleased to see the open space has been consolidated."

Frasers Property's chief executive, Stanley Quek, said he wanted to create "a new city square" for Sydney, so the modified plan featured a larger central park area. "We wanted this idea of a new urban piazza, with a series of horizontal green platforms."

Dr Quek deflected accusations that the site was being overdeveloped, saying: "The city has to grow but there are not many places for it to grow."

The director of SGS Economics and Planning, Patrick Fensham, backed the development's aims. "In general, we need urban consolidation so we don't chew up land for recreation and agriculture on the city fringes," he said.

Photo: Ateliers Jean Nouvel - The new ... a concept drawing of the tower on the brewery site on Broadway.