Forgotten Sydney suburb Box Hill Square developer Jean Nassif fled could be finished

Construction had not gone any further than foundations and an underground carpark when fugitive developer Jean Nassif abandoned it, but there is a glimmer of hope it could finally be finished.

A Sydney suburb that fugitive businessman Jean Nassif left without a town centre should finally have a commercial hub by the end of next year.

The Daily Telegraph can today reveal details of three new Box Hill Square development applications – one that proposes to fix work done for Nassif’s now-defunct company, Toplace, another seeking permission to vary from the original council approval by adding an ‘eat street’ and more apartments, and a third that contains plans for a larger childcare facility.

Toplace’s Box Hill town centre plans were submitted to the Hills Shire Council in 2015 and approved the following year. Building started in 2019 with the goal of completing the project in 2023.

But construction had not progressed beyond foundations and an underground carpark when Nassif’s wider empire collapsed, leaving behind estimated debts of $2 billion.

The Box Hill abandoned town centre. Picture: Damian Shaw

Jean Nassif fled to Lebanon with a warrant out for his arrest. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

He fled to Lebanon. An arrest warrant remains current over an alleged bank fraud.

In February this year, The Telegraph revealed the four-hectare site had been bought for $50 million by a new company called Polyhedric, whose sole director is Sydney tax lawyer Geoff Stein. He is also Polyhedric’s sole shareholder.

Polyhedric has since appointed developers Ironbrook to deliver “Box Hill Square”.

Ironbrook director Gavin Carrier told The Telegraph the proposed updates to the existing development approvals included an increase in apartments from 660 to 665, a new dining precinct and a reconfigured retail offering about 80 outlets anchored by a Coles supermarket.

An artist's impressions of Box Hill Square. Picture: Hills Shire Council

What the town centre of Box Hill Square could look like instead. Picture: Hills Shire Council

There would also be a medical practice and gym, Mr Carrier said, along with a larger childcare facility that could cater for 100 children, up by 20 on the original plan.

“Subject to construction conditions, the retail component is targeted for completion by the end of 2026, with residential towers to follow progressively thereafter,” Mr Carrier said.

The plans show that an extra four two-bedroom apartments are proposed, bringing the total to 440, along with one more one-bedroom unit.

It is not proposed to increase the height of the complex from the previously approved 70m.

The overall development including the retail area would have parking for 1389 cars, up by 23 on the previous plan. There is also room for 50 motorcycles compared to none before.

Construction halted when Nassif’s wider empire collapsed, leaving behind estimated debts of $2 billion.

The development application that focuses on fixes to what had already been built includes details of plans to rectify retaining walls.

Polyhedric’s Mr Stein did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

In April last year, The Telegraph newspaper carried a front-page story about Box Hill residents being left without schools, parks, decent roads or a town centre. The headline was the ‘Suburb Sydney forgot’.

According to NSW government plans published in 2018, four public schools were to be built in Box Hill. But six years later there was still none and no site had been purchased.

Parents were forced to do 90-minute round trips to the catchment public school at Rouse Hill.

The Telegraph’s advocacy led to a commitment from the state government to finally deliver schooling in Box Hill. A temporary school opened in February. A permanent primary school and high school are due to open in 2028.

Originally published as Forgotten Sydney suburb Box Hill Square developer Jean Nassif fled could be finished