Latest news with #Mian


Global News
3 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Council to mull new north central Calgary neighbourhood instead of business park
A new neighbourhood with thousands of homes could be in the works in north central Calgary, with the city pivoting from plans for a business park in the area. The area structure plan is called Naato'siyinnipi, named after a revered Pikani elder and ceremonial leader who lived from 1830 until 1910. The plan proposes up to 7,300 new homes and 5,700 jobs on 578 acres of land between Harvest Hills Boulevard N.E. and the CPKC tracks near Deerfoot Trail. It marks a pivot from the city's original plan for the site, which was titled the Aurora Business Park Structure Plan, with much of the area slated for commercial use. 'Segmented and completely a business park – I don't know if that's really in the books right now,' said Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp, who chairs the city's Infrastructure and Planning committee. 'The business park wasn't something that could move forward.' Story continues below advertisement The area is bordered by 96 Avenue N.E., Beddington Trail N.W., Harvest Hills Boulevard N., and the railway to the east. View image in full screen The 578 acre site included in the proposed Naato'siyinnipi Area Structure Plan. Global News According to Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian, who represents the area, residential development is possible on the site due to changes to the Airport Vicinity Protection Area, which previously only allowed industrial development in that area. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The plan proposes different groupings of mixed-use buildings, multi-residential and ground-oriented development, with plans for an emergency response centre, community activity centre and a future high school. City officials envision the future neighbourhood as a transit-oriented development, with a nearby bus rapid transit route, and plans for a future Green Line LRT station, as well as a future airport connector line. However, plans to extend the Green Line LRT north from the downtown may still be many years away. Story continues below advertisement 'There aren't that many places within my ward where you can walk to a grocery store, walk to shops and have your house and get on transit,' Mian said. 'I'm excited for its potential.' Not everyone is sharing in that enthusiasm over the future of the site, which is largely a natural green space. Andrew Yule, formerly the president of the Nose Creek Preservation Society who is now running for city council to replace the outgoing Mian, has reservations about the size of the plans and its potential impacts on the area. 'We are in a housing crisis so having residential does make sense,' Yule told Global News. 'My concern with the plan is it's too large, the area is too large and we should be condensing it closer to where potential transit will be.' According to Yule, there are concerns about development near the Nose Creek watershed, and impacts on the wildlife, as well as disturbances to historical sites in the area related to the Blackfoot Confederacy. 'It is our only naturalized green space in Ward 3 and so what we're trying to do is protect as much of it as we can,' Yule said. In response, Mian pointed to 87 hectares of non-developable environmental reserve land, and green space in the plan. Story continues below advertisement Although development on the site could be decades away, Mian noted the unique location and how infrastructure requirements in the area are less than other greenfield development on the outskirts of the city. 'We're not having to bring services in that weren't there before like we have to do when we're building on the edge of the city,' she said. 'But we're also not disrupting people like we do in the downtown, so I think it's a happy compromise and I think there's a lot of opportunity for some really good development here.' The city's Infrastructure and Planning Committee unanimously endorsed the area structure plan, which will now go to city council as a whole in September for a final say.


Calgary Herald
17-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Newly named Naato'siyinnipi ASP envisions 7,300 transit-oriented homes in north-central Calgary
Article content A newly named area structure plan makes way for the development of thousands of homes in north-Central Calgary, in an area previously slated for commercial or industrial development. Article content Originally called the Aurora Business Park ASP, the proposed Naato'siyinnipi ASP now envisions building up to 7,300 housing units and creating more than 5,000 jobs on 578 acres of land west of Deerfoot Trail N. Article content Article content Article content The future community would be bordered by Harvest Hills Boulevard to the west, 96th Avenue N.E. to the north, the CPKC tracks to the east and Beddington Trail to the south. Article content More than just a change in name, it's a shift from the original plan, which sought to establish a business park. The revised plan outlines a more transit-oriented community with land earmarked for a Green Line station — if the future train line eventually extends north of downtown — as well as a station for a future airport connector line, and a transit maintenance and storage facility. Article content It also proposes a mixture of multi-unit residential, mixed-use and ground-oriented development, while allocating land for a future high school site and other land uses, including retained park space and natural areas near Nose Creek. Article content Article content Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian, who represents the area, said amendments to the Airport Vicinity Protection Area in 2021 and lower noise exposure forecasts paved the way for residential development, rather than just commercial or industrial land uses. Article content Article content 'Airport technology changes a lot and the airplanes are much quieter than they used to be, so the area opened up for the potential to have residential development,' she said. Article content 'There's a long history on this site but, originally, the city had planned for the area to be a business and industrial park. A lot of that was dictated by the fact the airport was so close by.' Article content A major benefit of building homes in this part of the city, according Mian, is that much of the greenfield land is already serviced and it's near the bus rapid transit line on Centre Street. Article content The land is also bordered to the north and south by Harvest Hills and Beddington Heights. Article content 'We do need to provide housing and there's really two places you can provide it — within the existing footprint of the city or on the edges of the city,' Mian said. Article content 'Both have environmental concerns, because on the edge of the city, you're often eating up existing farmland. So to be able to develop sensitively within city boundaries in an area already serviced that has bus rapid transit right there is amazing.'


Calgary Herald
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Firefighters association flags concern over apparatus shortage
Article content 'Clearly, we don't have enough fire apparatus to adequately protect Calgarians,' he said. 'Seconds matter in an emergency and without the proper equipment, our firefighters are stretched dangerously thin. Article content 'With a municipal election around the corner, we need local leaders to recognize public safety needs to be a priority.' Article content Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian said the current council has increased the CFD budget substantially since being elected in 2021, thanks to firefighters' previous advocacy for more resources before and after that election. Article content She pointed to council approving a $76-million increase to CFD's capital budget and $63 million more for the department's operating budget for the 2023-26 four-year budget. Article content Article content This spending allowed CFD to hire 200 additional firefighters and to add two medical response units, she said, as well as two temporary fire halls on the city's outskirts — one in Haskayne and one in Hotchkiss. Article content Less than two weeks ago, CFD and city officials cut the ribbon on a new $53-million fire station in Varsity, which also features affordable housing and a future space for a child-care facility. Article content But Mian, who is not running for re-election this year, noted that Calgary's growth since 2021 means more funding for the fire department will likely be necessary when the next council considers the 2027-30 budget cycle. Article content 'We recognize that as a growing city, we need to continue to fund the fire department well,' she said Monday. Article content Article content Mian also argued that fire response times in her ward were 17 seconds faster than the city average in 2024. She cited an annual report that of more than 2,500 priority responses in Ward 3 last year, 87 per cent met the response time target of seven minutes. Article content 'We've had really good firefighting service for the types of incidents we have had,' she said. 'I appreciate what (the firefighters' association is) saying, but I would assure people that we do have good coverage. Article content 'That said, as we continue to build out north of Stoney . . . we're going to have to keep investing.' Article content A statement from the fire department Monday said the tower truck for Station 31 experienced 'unexpected mechanical issues' that required it to temporarily be removed from service. The truck has been returned to the station 'with no impacts' to public safety. Article content 'The Calgary Fire Department's fleet of fire trucks and other apparatus is dynamically deployed across the city,' it said. 'Trucks move about depending on what is required to ensure fire response coverage and are sometimes subject to maintenance requirements.'


Courier-Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Prestige auction event to test the market
Momentum is building for the Gold Coast's only luxury auction event in winter with more than 30 properties going under the hammer. Amir Prestige Group's Grand Winter Auction Event is set to be held on July 12 and will include everything from waterfront homes and penthouses to family estates and Hinterland retreats. Principal Amir Mian said despite the cooler weather, properties were still attracting red-hot interest from buyers. 'As someone who has spent more than two decades helping people buy and sell homes across the Gold Coast, I can confidently say there's never been a better time to buy or sell,' Mr Mian said. 'What's most exciting is that the momentum is already building. 'We're seeing strong inquiry, high open home attendance, and multiple offers flowing in before auction day — signs of a market that's heating up even in the cooler months.' LOL: Epic Aussie property listing fails revealed First look: Gold Coast's $400m estate with 230 new homes PropTrack data reveals the current auction clearance rate for the Gold Coast is 51 per cent, up from 44 per cent last month. 'Buyer demand is surging, especially among interstate migrants from New South Wales and Victoria looking to make a lifestyle shift,' Mr Mian said. 'Prestige properties are seeing shorter days on market, and multiple registered bidders have become the norm at high-end auctions. 'Our own internal data shows that over 200,000 buyers are actively engaged through our digital and database campaigns — and they're ready to act when the right property is presented.' Among the properties to go under the hammer is a private estate in Hope Island. Set on a sprawling waterfront block at 108 Crescent Ave, the palatial eight-bedroom home boasts a raft of ultra luxe features including a port cochere, resort style swimming pool, in-ground fire pit, sports bar, and a glass-walled garage to show off your favourite classic car. Gold Coast business owner Brenton Fisher is behind the luxury digs known as 'Salt'. 'I had previously built at Runaway Bay and received great feedback, so I used a lot of similar finishes,' Mr Fisher said. 'The aim was to make it amazing and maintenance free, and there's not a centimetre that's cheap or average.' Another standout is a Broadbeach Waters showstopper at 139 Allambi Ave. Set down a private driveway, the property spans three levels, with the master suite, along with three bedrooms, a media room, games room and lounge on the upper floor. Sellers Brett and Jakki Ulrich bought the property in 2019 before embarking on an epic makeover. The Grand Winter Auction Event will be held at The Langham Hotel. 'It brings together serious buyers, motivated sellers, and some of the most iconic homes on the market — all in one incredible setting,' Mr Mian said. 'Held in a six-star venue with complimentary refreshments, canapes, and free parking, it's designed to feel more like a luxury experience than a typical auction day.'


Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NC MP to skip all-party diplomatic trip
SRINAGAR: National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmad will not join an all-party delegation visiting foreign countries to present India's stand on terrorism and ongoing Operation Sindoor , citing religious obligations, a close aide said Thursday. According to his aide, Ahmad will be attending the annual Baba Nagri Urs — a prominent religious event in Wangath village of Ganderbal district — honouring Hazrat Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanvi. Held in early June, the ceremony draws thousands of devotees from across J&K. Though his party had recommended his name and govt included him in the delegation, the MP has formally communicated his inability to participate, the aide said, leaving J&K's governing party at risk of being unrepresented in the diplomatic mission. But NC functionaries appear unaware of Ahmad's decision to skip the trip. Party spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq repeated Wednesday and Thursday that the MP would travel with the team. Ahmad, who represents Anantnag–Rajouri in Lok Sabha, was slated to visit Spain, Greece, Latvia, and Russia as part of a group led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi. He was one of three J&K politicians selected for the govt-backed mission, along with Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ghulam Ali Khatana.