It might be hard to stop progress, but the Illawarra's growing skyline continues to display pockets of resistance.
Home owners such as Wollongong's Avraam Kalyvas, 86, have rejected the promise of a financial windfall in favour of old-fashioned sentimentality, proving that not everyone can be bought.
"Agents come and I say, 'No sell!' Even if they offered me $5 million I wouldn't take it," the Stewart St resident said.
But it has been at a price, with clear views that have been enjoyed for decades being crowded out by high-rise development.
Standing in the vegie patch of his Wollongong backyard, Avraam Kalyvas has a view of towering units which appears almost post-apocalyptic.
At Shellharbour, a humble weatherboard cottage, complete with frangipani tree and rickety gate, sits wedged between the boutique stores and eateries of Addison St.
Norma Spence became an urban hero when she vowed in 1997 to reject all offers to buy her seaside cottage on Cliff Rd, Wollongong.
"This area has a lot of sentimental value for me and money can't buy that," she said.
She remained in the home until her death in 2007, aged 74. The property sold for $5 million and was demolished by developers in April.
Mr Kalyvas knows that a similar future awaits his home of 55 years, but he's told property developers they'll have to wait until he's six feet under before it happens.
"I have too many good memories - my wife passed from this place and I want to pass from this place as well," he said this week.
Illawarra Property Council chair Geoff Jones, a Wollongong real estate agent for 35 years, said despite the few hardy souls who refused to sell, most people had a price.
"It usually comes down to dollars. If the price is right and people keep having money thrown at them, eventually they'll settle," he said.
But even property developers had their limits, and a land owner could be left with incompatible development going up around them.
He said such was the case of the stalled Ambience development at Fairy Meadow, where owners of a cottage and units complex ended up with 7m concrete walls overshadowing their homes.
"I feel sorry for the people there," he said.
Sometimes, nothing stands in the way of progress.
Helen Barham last year suffered the heartbreak of being forced from her Figtree home of 55 years by the RTA.
Mrs Barham, 80, once operated six Roban Lee Fashion stores throughout the region before scaling back to one outlet fronting her home on the Princes Hwy, adjoining Westfield.
"I was in business for 45 years but last year I was told I was in the road of progress and had to leave," she said.
"They said my home had to be demolished so they could widen the roadway and make room for traffic.
"I told them I didn't want to move but it made no difference."
Her home and shop were demolished six months ago. The adjoining Illawarra Credit Building is set to follow.
Today Mrs Barham lives in a Wollongong unit courtesy of an RTA payout.
Mr Jones advised those who are able to hold out in key positions to join forces with a neighbour to maximise the appeal and price of their properties.
"It makes sense from an economic point of view for neighbours to look at the potential of the value of their site combined," he said.
"The way the new LEP (local environment plan) is, particularly in the city centre, there is also an encouragement of developers to consolidate sites."
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