Residents living in the shadow of “The Block” fear that the made-for-TV development will forever change the character of their neighborhood.
Just days after Channel Nine was criticized for an ‘authorised’ letter asking residents to move their cars so an advert for the show could be filmed, some fear Charming Street is losing its charm entirely.
Located on a bend in leafy Hampton East – in the affluent Bayside Council area of south-east Melbourne – Daily Mail Australia visited the reality TV juggernaut’s latest construction site on Monday to find a sea of people in orange vests rushing on the street.
Traders and growers converged on the five classic brick homes, which were reportedly bought for a total of $14.3 million on Sunday.
Leonor Gonzalez (pictured) fears the project will change the very dynamic of the street.
Traders and growers converged on the five classic brick homes, which were reportedly bought for a total of $14.3 million on Sunday.
With pre-shoot preparation underway on blocks ranging from 575m² to 703m², the site is expected to remain in full operation for at least the next three months.
While the hustle and bustle of the massive building operation has so far seemed to bother few, the project itself remains a concern for the elderly street population.
Nestled across from a busy construction site, Leonor Gonzalez fears the project will alter the very dynamic of the street.
Ms Gonzalez moved to Kingston Street – around 10km further southeast – to enjoy the quiet life of Charming Street.
When approached by Daily Mail Australia, she had no idea what ‘The Block’ was and really didn’t care.
“It didn’t affect me much…they control the traffic very well, so it’s not a problem,” Ms Gonzalez said. “But I don’t think that’s a good thing for the street.”
Like many of her neighbors, Ms. Gonzalez was drawn to the street because of its quiet, unassuming inhabitants.
“It loses its charm. It’s not charming anymore,” Ms. Gonzalez said.
“All the houses are as they are when they started and they have lovely gardens… it’s going to be a different street. We will have more traffic. Where will all the cars be?
Ms Gonzalez said she and her neighbors feared the street would lose its “1950s charm” and trigger more extreme renovations.
Charming Street was lined with dumpsters and lorries on Monday where workers were busy clearing homes
Scott Cam and Shelley Craft of The Block were joined by Block judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker on Charming Street in Melbourne last weekend, where they filmed a 1950s-themed advert for the new season.
Traffic conditions are well managed by a team of road workers on Charming Street
‘Are we going to lose this corner here? They will want to give me a lot of money if they want to get me out,” she said.
Residents are also worried about who might move into the neighborhood once the homes sell.
“A lot of people here are like me. Older people… that’s going to change,” Ms. Gonzalez said.
Ms. Gonzalez’s concerns were shared by several of her elderly neighbors, many of whom did not want to speak publicly.
Down the street, Glenn – who also declined to give his full name – said he was less concerned about the development.
“It’s good to see some of these old houses putting on a little makeup.” he said.
Like his neighbours, Glenn said he couldn’t be happier with the way Channel Nine communicated with residents ahead of the show.
Last Monday, the network sent a letter to homeowners living along Charming Street which was later branded ‘authoritative’ by many Melburnians who saw it after it appeared on a Reddit page.
Channel Nine informed residents that they intended to film a commercial for the hit show and that it would be set in the 1950s.
The letter sparked outrage for giving residents only short notice and telling them not to park their cars on the street or driveways.
Channel Nine has been slammed after sending an ‘authorised’ letter to residents asking them to move their cars so they can shoot an ad for ‘The Block’
Channel Nine informed residents that he was planning to film a commercial for their hit show and it would be set in the 1950s (pictured, ‘The Block’ host Scott Cam)
“We will be bringing various 7 x 1950 cars for street parking and period props and costumes,” the letter read.
“As we dress the street, we ask that on Friday evening you do not park on the street or in your driveways.
“We would like modern cars to stay away from the shots. If you need help moving your vehicles, we can help you in the morning.
The letter went on to warn residents of Houses 24 and 25 to ensure they would not park their cars in front of their homes on Saturday.
A photo of the letter was shared online where social media users hacked the network for its “authorized” requests.
On the streets, locals rejected the online hatred piled up on Channel Nine by keyboard commandos.
‘Communication has been good. They usually stick something in the mailbox. We had something the other day that they were touring a lot, but they let us know,’ Glenn said.
The resident revealed that Channel Nine had provided residents with two phone numbers they could call if they needed to raise concerns about the project.
“So far there have been no problems and there is no need to complain. There is security here at night and you chat with them and they also seem very friendly,” Glenn said.
One of The Block’s last houses (left) on Charming Street
Charming Street was inundated with workers dressed in orange on Monday
Workers regularly move through Charming Street to a series of properties used by Channel Nine
Adrian, who also declined to give his full name, agreed that the yard was running as well as could be expected.
“It’s like any construction site and they try to take care of us as much as possible,” he said.
“But it’s very early in the play, so it’s too hard to tell really.”
Adrian said that while traffic was heavier both on the road and on the sidewalks due to interested members of the community walking around to take a look, it was of little concern.
“As for the traffic situation, when they did their 48 hour challenge last week there were a few extra trucks coming in and out but it was only for a short time and then it went away. has calmed down,” he said.
The Charming Street show will see competitors working more closely than last year’s show in the sprawling Macedon Ranges in Gisborne.
The new season of “The Block” is filming at houses 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 of Charming Street.
They were purchased by MicJoy Pty Ltd, a company owned by Nine, in separate off-market deals for a whopping $14.3 million.
The most expensive of the bunch, 20 Charming St, cost $3.5 million when purchased last July.
Only one of the five properties purchased along the row of houses at numbers 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 has two bedrooms. The other four have three to four bedrooms.