Residents next to Channel Nine’s The Block fear the show will destroy its 1950s charm

Residents living in the shadow of The Block fear the TV development could change the character of their neighborhood forever.

Just days after Channel Nine came under fire over a ‘legitimate’ letter urging residents to move their cars so a commercial for a show could be filmed, some fear Charming Street is in danger of losing its charm altogether.

Nestled on a bend in leafy Hampton East – in the affluent Bayside Council area of ​​south-east Melbourne – Daily Mail Australia visited the latest construction site for the reality TV juggernaut on Monday and found a sea of ​​people in orange vests scurrying about the street .

Dealers and producers converged on Sunday for the five classic brick homes, which were reportedly bought for a total of $14.3 million.

Leonor Gonzalez (pictured) fears the project will change the dynamics of the street.

Dealers and producers converged on Sunday for the five classic brick homes, which were reportedly bought for a total of $14.3 million.

With preparations underway for filming on blocks ranging from 575 to 703 square meters, the site is expected to remain a hive of activity for at least the next three months.

While the excitement of the massive construction work has seemed to bother few so far, the project itself remains a concern for the street’s elderly population.

Sitting across the street from a busy construction site, Leonor Gonzalez fears the project will change the dynamics of the street.

Ms Gonzalez moved from Kingston – about 10km to the south-east – to enjoy the quiet life on Charming Street.

When approached by Daily Mail Australia, she had little idea what The Block was and didn’t really care.

“It didn’t affect me very much…they control traffic very well, so it’s not a problem,” Ms. Gonzalez said. “But I don’t think it’s a good thing for the road.”

Like many of her neighbors, Ms. Gonzalez was drawn to the street for its quiet and unassuming people.

“It’s losing its appeal. It’s not charming anymore,” Ms. Gonzalez said.

“All the houses are as they were when they started and they have beautiful gardens… it’s going to be a different looking street. We’ll have more traffic. Where will all the cars be?’

Ms. Gonzalez said she and her neighbors fear the street will lose its 1950s charm and spark more extreme renovations.

Shipping containers and trucks lined Charming Street on Monday as workers were busy cleaning houses

The Block’s Scott Cam and Shelley Craft were joined by the Block’s judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker on Melbourne’s Charming Street last weekend where they were filming a 1950’s themed commercial for the new season

Traffic conditions are well managed by a team of road workers in Charming Street

“Are we going to lose this corner here? They’ll want to give me good money if they want to undress me,’ she said.

Residents are also worried about who might move into the neighborhood after the houses are sold.

“A lot of people here are like me. Older people…it’s going to change,” Ms. Gonzalez said.

Ms Gonzalez’s concerns were shared by several of her elderly neighbors, many of whom chose not to speak publicly.

Across 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 older homes getting a little freshening.” he said.

Like his neighbors, 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 that was later branded “legitimate” by many Melburnians who saw it after it appeared on a Reddit page.

Channel Nine informed residents that it intended to film a commercial for the hit show and that it would be set in the 1950s.

The letter sparked outrage because it only gave short notice to residents, telling them not to park their cars on the street or in driveways.

Channel Nine was slammed after it sent a “legitimate” letter to residents asking them to move their cars so they can film a commercial for “The Block”.

Channel Nine informed residents that they intend to film a commercial for their hit show, and that it would be set in the 1950s (pictured The Block host Scott Cam).

“We will be bringing assorted 7 x 1950s cars for street parking and period props and costumes,” the letter reads.

“As we decorate the street, Friday night we ask that you do not park on the street or in your driveways.

“We want to keep modern cars out of the shots. If you need help moving your vehicles, we can help you in the morning.’

The letter went on to warn residents of homes number 24 and 25 to ensure they do not park their car in front of their homes on Saturday.

A photo of the letter was shared online, where social media users took to the network for his “legitimate” requests.

Down the street, residents rebuffed the online hate fueled by keyboard commands on Channel Nine.

“Communication was good. They usually stick something in the mailbox. We found out recently that they’re filming quite a lot, but they let us know,” Glenn said.

The resident revealed that Channel Nine had provided two phone numbers for locals to call if they ever needed to raise any concerns about the project.

“At the moment there were no problems at all and there was no reason to complain. They have security here at night and you talk to them and they seem pretty friendly too,’ Glenn said.

One of the last houses of The Block (left) on Charming Street

Orange-clad workers swarmed Charming Street on Monday

Workers routinely move across Charming Street to a number of properties used by Channel Nine

Adrian, who also declined to give his full name, agreed the site worked as well as could be expected.

“It’s like any construction site and they’re trying to take care of us as best they can,” he said.

“But it’s very early in the play, so it’s too hard to really tell.”

Adrian said while traffic was heavier on both the road and footpaths due to interested members of the community walking downstairs, it was hardly a cause for concern.

“In terms of traffic, when they did their 48-hour challenge last week, a few more trucks came in and out, but it was only for a short time and then it calmed down,” he said.

The Charming Street Show will see contestants working more closely together than last year’s show in Gisborne’s sprawling Macedon Ranges.

The new season of The Block will be filmed at 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 on Charming Street.

They were bought out by MicJoy Pty Ltd, a Nine company, in separate off-market deals for a whopping $14.3 million.

The most expensive of the series, 20 Charming St, cost a whopping $3.5 million when it was purchased last July.

Only one of the five properties purchased along the row of houses numbered 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 has two bedrooms. The other four have three to four bedrooms.