While the residents of Werribee South are up in arms about plans to build a $288 million youth detention centre in their neighbourhood, the locals in Parkville are sorry to see the old "juvie" go.

The youth justice centre is "the nicest neighbour you could have," says Peter Iliades, who lives across the road from the compound on leafy Park Street with his wife Athena and three daughters.

"There are no wild parties, very quiet," he says. "Living here with three young girls, I would be the person who would be most worried if there was anything to fear. There has been no criminality here or noise that ruins one's serenity."

The 3000 residents who rallied on Monday night to oppose the new prison were "overreacting," says Lee Naish, who has lived alongside the centre for 16 years with his wife Donna De Palma in one of the coveted suburb's period homes.