ALAND buys 189 Macquarie St, Parramatta, after Jean Nassif’s company loses Land and Environment Court appeal

A major construction company has struck a $100m deal to acquire a Parramatta site, on which it is set to build smaller twin towers than the skyscrapers once proposed by fugitive developer Jean Nassif.

The site at 189 Macquarie St Parramatta has laid dormant for seven years.

A major construction and development company has struck a $100m deal to acquire a Parramatta site, on which it is set to build smaller twin towers than the skyscrapers once proposed by fugitive developer Jean Nassif.

In its most largest individual acquisition deal, ALAND has bought the parcel of land at 189 Macquarie St from dVT Group, an insolvency service that was appointed the external administrator of JKN Para Pty Ltd after Nassif, its sole director, fled Australia with a warrant out for his arrest over fraud allegations.

Another of Nassif’s companies, Toplace, had originally been approved to build 425 units, among other things, in a 30-storey development on the site.

But after works were halted because of controversy surrounding basement levels being built without consent and without being waterproofed, the site ended up in the hands of JKN Para Pty Ltd.

That company proposed to instead build 708 apartments across two skyscrapers, which would have been 47 and 38 storeys tall.

Aland will build twin towers at 189 Macquarie St Parramatta.

But the plan was scuttled when Parramatta Council refused the development application, in a decision upheld by the Land and Environment Court late last month.

The court described Nassif’s proposed skyscrapers, which would have stood atop an existing seven-storey podium, as “excessively dominant and imposing”.

Having now acquired the site, ALAND is set to develop the land in a manner consistent with the approval previously granted to Toplace.

Jean Nassif at his Concord office before he fled to Lebanon.

It will therefore not be required to submit a development application for the project, which will feature two 30-storey towers and 425 units.

ALAND said there would also be 317sq m of retail floor space, 715 public car spaces, 389 residents’ parking spaces and 1550sq m of communal open space.

ALAND owner Andrew Hrsto said a design masterplan for the site would be developed over “coming months”.

“The community will be kept informed at all times,’’ he said.

“As we work through this process, we will make further announcements.’’

It will be ambitious but not as conspicuous compared with the proposed 708-unit complex, which would have been one of the largest developments Parramatta.

Last month, the court rejected that plan because of its poor design and lack of sunlight.

During a long-running court battle, the council opposed the development because it did not exhibit design excellence.

The proposed skyscrapers also generated public opposition from residents over impacts including loss of privacy, overshadowing, traffic congestion, noise and concerns it would lead to an “oversupply of residential accommodation” in Parramatta.

JKN Para Pty Ltd had, however, argued the height of the buildings was consistent with the 167m height limit for the site and the subject of “design excellence” was highly subjective.

Originally published as ALAND buys 189 Macquarie St, Parramatta, after Jean Nassif’s company loses Land and Environment Court appeal