The building of the new monument wasn't without the controversy. Public was against the demolition of the old Žrnov Town, while the especially vocal was the author Branislav Nušić. He also protested that the monument is so distant from Belgrade, which would prevent the citizens to pay their respect. Nušić wrote: to Avala go only the wealthy men who have cars, bringing their mistresses with them. However, King Alexander was adamant that the monument has to be built on Avala, stating either there or nowhere, while Nušić proposed one of the central city squares, Republic Square, close to the modern Staklenac shopping center. Ironically, on that section of the square, today known as the Plateau of Zoran Đinđić, actually the monument to Branislav Nušić was erected.