Particle の specific usage question

[MeitanteiJesus]

In this sentence:

一見すると良いところのないようではあるが, ...

I'm thinking it translates to something like: "At first glance, there's nothing good about it, but ..."

Why exactly is の used instead of は？ Although it would be a bit weird since は occurs after as well, and would probably have to be changed to ですが　instead of ようではあるが

---

As an aside, ところ just means part of or about right?
良いところ - good parts
三分の　ところに - about 3 minutes (The の here just indicates that ところ is related to the time right?)

[Hektor6766]

The の makes the good point(s) a thing in "it" (the topic implied by は) to have (or not) if one takes a first glance. It nominalizes the phrase "good points if first sight taken".

ところ can mean "place" or a figurative "point".

三分のところに "3 minutes' [timespan] to the (anticipated) point (in time)"

[SomeCallMeChris]

You can't nominalize a noun, as 'nominalize' means 'to make into a noun'.
This の is a substitution for が

の can be substituted for the subject-marker が (but not the conjunction が) and does so in fixed antiquated expressions, and in modern usage in order to prevent multiple が from causing confusion or to tighten the relationship between the noun and the verb.

There's nothing wrong with the original attempt at translating it.

[Hektor6766]

You're right, it's a subordinate phrase to what was left off.

[Yudan Taiteki]

の can be substituted for the subject-marker が (but not the conjunction が) and does so in fixed antiquated expressions, and in modern usage in order to prevent multiple が from causing confusion or to tighten the relationship between the noun and the verb.

It's not this fixed; の can substitute for が in any relative clause and there doesn't need to be any big reason for it.