Residents do not like it. Willoughby City Council does not like it. Even the local MP, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, is not impressed with the developer's latest plan for the Channel Nine site on Sydney's north shore.
But their concerns may count for little if the developer, LEPC9, is given the green light by the NSW government to build 495 apartments in nine buildings up to 12-storeys high.
"My local community feel strongly that this modification should not be considered as it is vastly different from the PAC [Planning Assessment Commission] decision, which was the result of a robust two-year process," Ms Berejiklian said.
"I share my community's concerns."
The Nine Network's home for more than 50 years, the 2.9-hectare site in Willoughby has been mired in controversy since plans for its redevelopment were revealed.
In December 2014, a concept plan for the site was approved by the PAC, following court proceedings, that would permit up to 400 apartments.
Nine sold its headquarters for $147.5 million in 2015 to LEPC9, a joint venture between Hong Kong-based property developer Euro Properties and Lotus Property Fund.
LEPC9 submitted its second modification to develop the site after its initial proposal to build 510 apartments encountered community opposition.
Its latest proposal is currently before the Planning Department, which is reviewing public submissions.
Project director David Hynes said: "Following the acquisition of the site from Channel Nine, it was obvious to us that the previously approved scheme for the site could be significantly improved upon from a design and community benefit perspective."
In addition to apartments, the new proposal includes a new public park, affordable housing, additional car parking, shops and a childcare centre.
"This is a good outcome for the community - we will provide more than two-and-a-half times the publicly accessible open space on the site but increasing the dwellings numbers by less than a quarter," Mr Hynes said.
"It is important to note that this increase in dwellings is what enables the increase in parkland as well as a number of other significant benefits."
Mr Hynes said it was the developer's view that there was "considerable support" for its latest proposal in the community - a view contradicted by Ms Berejiklian.
Peter Wilton, the president of the Artarmon Progress Association, said the proposal for 495 apartments was too many for the site given its location, distance from mass transport and lack of amenities.
"The modified scheme's 12-storey maximum building height is too high for the site which is surrounded by either low-rise single dwellings or medium-density apartments that are capped to a maximum of eight storeys in height," he said.
Mr Wilton also criticised the planning process, which he said allowed developers to ignore decisions made by a court and planners and submit drastically altered development plans without adequate scrutiny.
"The applicant's tactics have the effect of creating fatigue across the community and appear designed to create apathy and reduce community comment," he said.
"The developer's current application contains major changes to the approved Concept Plan, yet despite this, the developer has failed to perform any community consultation of any substance on this modification. This further suggests the low value the developer places on the ongoing impact their development has on the community."
Mr Wilton said residents were not opposed to the site's redevelopment so long as it adhered to the density and building heights previously agreed.
"We have met with our local member, Gladys Berejiklian, who supports the community's position and cannot see any justification to modify the approved concept plan for the Channel Nine site," he said.
A spokeswoman for Willoughby City Council said the community could lose faith in the planning system if LEPC9's current proposal for the site is approved.
"The approval to develop 400 apartments on the site was a compromise reached between the community, the developer and State government, involving significant time and cost on the part of the community," she said.
"If this solution is overturned by the State government approving a 25 per cent increase in the number of dwellings, community confidence in the planning system could be undermined."
A draft submission to the Planning Department, which was endorsed by the council last week, raises "significant concerns" with LEPC9's new plans, including a lack of public benefit, adverse impacts on neighbouring residents and the detrimental visual impact of 12-storey buildings.
"Concern is raised with the proposed child care centre on this site due to potentially damaging exposure to electromagnetic radiation from the adjoining transmissions tower," the submission said.
"The additional number of dwellings resulting in a more intense use of the site will have significant adverse impacts on the local infrastructure including the local road network."
But Mr Hynes said there was adequate infrastructure - sewage, roads, transport - for the redevelopment.
"There is no pollution from the site," he said. "In fact, we have offered to clean-up the council-owned Walter Street Reserve, which is currently covered in litter and rubbish."
