AJ Sadauskas<p>The first iteration of the plans for the Parra metro station are out.<br><br>Chris Minns seems to want four soulless office towers and no station art, meaning the surrounding area is likely to be dead on weekends.<br><br>And despite the housing crisis, just 111 apartments, which is surprisingly low.<br><br>The Committee for Sydney and Business Western Sydney want a mixed use development with restaurants, bars, galleries, office, snd residential.<br><br>Frankly, a far better option.<br><br>"Four high-rises stretching up to 38 storeys are set to sit on top of Parramatta’s new metro station, as local business groups push for the development to be “western Sydney’s Piccadilly Circus”.<br><br>"The Department of Planning on Friday approved Sydney Metro’s initial concept plans for the station as well as the towers on top of the site, which sits just north of Parramatta Square.<br><br>"According to the plans, the buildings will contain mostly commercial spaces and some retail, with about 111 residential units across the development.<br>...<br>"The Committee for Sydney and Business Western Sydney released a joint paper on Thursday pushing for Parramatta metro station and its surrounding development to become a mixed-use entertainment district with bars, restaurants, galleries and immersive artworks.<br><br>"According to the lobby groups, the hub would be “akin to western Sydney’s own Piccadilly Circus”.<br><br>"The report was created after Premier Chris Minns told The Daily Telegraph in March that his government would take a “no frills” approach to the design of the Metro West stations, more akin to prioritising function over form to prevent cost blowouts of the $25.3 billion project."<br><br>You know what causes the cost of megaprojects to blow out?<br><br>Not having enough public servants on staff to do things like scope out the foundations of nearby Telstra buildings.<br><br>Or making massive late changes to the design of projects already under construction.<br><br>Y'know, like Chris Minns wanted to with an additional metro station at Rosehill Racecourse.<br><br>"City of Parramatta chief executive Gail Connolly said the council wanted to see the surrounding area brought to life by the new metro, especially the privately owned 95-year-old Roxy Theatre, which has been closed for 11 years now and sits immediately adjacent to the metro station.<br><br>“'Our view, though, is that the government should step in and take a leadership role and should look to either acquire the site, redevelop it itself, or fund the restoration of the theatre,' she said."<br><br>A restored Roxy Theatre would make an excellent and much-needed live music venue. Chris Minns needs to jump in snd make it happen.<br><br><a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/nswpol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nswpol</span></a> <a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/auspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>auspol</span></a> <a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/planning" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>planning</span></a> <a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/urbanplanning" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>UrbanPlanning</span></a> <a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/train" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>train</span></a> <a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/trains" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>trains</span></a> <a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/railway" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>railway</span></a> <a href="https://gts.sadauskas.id.au/tags/railways" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>railways</span></a></p>