Latest news with #capitalcity
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Fahmi: Asean Summit in KL to spotlight city's progress, global standing
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today defended the decision to host the 46th Asean Summit in capital amidst public complaints about anticipated traffic congestion, saying it is to showcase the city's progress and beauty. Major roads around the Klang Valley will be closed for six days starting this Friday to facilitate travel for dignitaries attending the summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Authorities have advised the public to either avoid these roads or, if possible, stay at home during the event. During a site visit to the convention centre today, Fahmi told reporters that this year's summit is unique as it marks the first time envoys from China and Gulf countries will participate. 'It is a choice where we hope we can entertain our guests, show them how wonderful Kuala Lumpur has become over the last many years,' he said. 'The last time we hosted was ten years ago. This is an opportunity to show how much progress we've made.' Six expressways and 25 major roads in the Klang Valley will face closures or diversions from May 23 to May 28 in conjunction with the summit. Bukit Aman's Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director, Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, announced today the deployment of 789 officers for various duties, from escorting VVIP motorcades to managing expected road congestion, The Star reported. Private firms have been encouraged to allow their staff to work from home, while the Ministry of Education has announced that schools located along the affected major roads will implement remote learning. 'This is not an opportunity that comes often,' Fahmi said, as he reiterated the call for employers to allow remote work. 'This (summit) is especially important because it is under the leadership of a prime minister who is highly respected internationally.'
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Wellington scheme using office blocks for affordable housing expanded
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Housing developers and Wellington City Council say the Te Kāinga affordable housing scheme is well on the way to creating 1500 new apartments in Wellington's central city by 2033. Property developer Ian Cassels said the scheme was a crucial springboard to promote growth in the capital. Originally proposed in 2018 by then mayor, Justin Lester, Te Kāinga involved developers converting unused office buildings into residential apartments with the council then taking on a long term lease and acting as property manager. The scheme was designed to be "cost neutral" to ratepayers - with building owners paying to maintain the buildings - while a property management fee covered the council's cost of managing tenants. The success of the early stages of the initiative had recently seen the council expand the initial goal of 1000 new apartments to 1500 by 2033. Ian Cassels' development firm, The Wellington Company owned two of the three buildings currently operating within the scheme. "Unless we get people living in the city, the city has no other way to grow again easily. "If we put 30,000 people in Wellington in the next ten years - which is more than likely - you would obviate the need for light rail, a four billion dollar device to get you from here to the suburbs. Why not be just walking around the city? "It's the intensity [of housing] that matters to the country - which we're not getting - and Wellington is the place for it," Cassels told RNZ's Nine to Noon . Cassels said he was confident the city's unused office space could accommodate up to 30,000 additional residents "easily". "The city swells to a 108,000 people on a workday. A lot of them occupy high rise buildings. A lot of [those] are now are not occupied. There's going to be space." Cassels said buildings were selected for their central locations, good light and air and seismic integrity. He said his company would require a New Building Standard (NBS) of above 67 percent to purchase a building for conversion while all of the council's leases within the scheme required at least an 80 percent earthquake strength rating. Wellington City Council (WCC) manager of housing development Paul McCorry said the scheme was designed to help bolster the workforces of the city's burgeoning creative and start-up businesses. "It is aimed at people who are living and working in the city. Our council is resolved to have a priority criteria for people who are working in job creation industries in the city so people who are working in the arts, people who are working in start-ups, people who are working in hospitality," he said. McCorry said long term tenancy agreements would also offer a security not common in central city housing. "We might have a long term commitment with a landlord for up to 20 years and we really want somebody who moves into one of our buildings to be able to have that flexibility that - if they want to live there for 20 years too - they can. "It's about security of tenure for people. Giving them a good strong foundation so they can get on with the rest of their life and have a strong home behind them," he said. McCorry said a property management fee paid by the building owners meant the scheme could operate with no impact to rate payers. "We're committing to a long term lease which allows [building owners] to pass on a rent that is below market and we can actually pass that rent on to our tenants. "We have a small tenancy management team and [building owners] provide a management fee as well, which covers the cost of those employees which are looking after our tenants, and makes sure that the whole thing is cost neutral," McCorry said. The scheme could act as "proof of concept" - for other councils looking to boost urban living - at home and abroad, he said. "We've been contacted by other councils interested in the program because they see some of the successes we've been having. "Melbourne, as an example, had some research recently where they identified 86 buildings within their CBD that were suitable for conversion."
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Wellington hospo stalwart shakes up bakery business
Wellington 38 minutes ago Tough economic conditions have forced the closure of dozens of capital city hospitality stalwarts, but some green shoots are starting to show through. One success story is a new bakery, which has opened four stores in ten months. Volco is the creation of businessman and former professional tennis player Tony Parun, along with his son Anthony. They started by rebranding their German bakery, Brezelmania, in Kelburn midway through last year. They've since opened up three more stores throughout the city, each with slightly different menus. The latest is only a few weeks old, offering a full-blown brunch menu alongside their wide selection of pastries and pies. Business lead Anthony Parun and head chef Kirran Buckland speak to Kathryn.
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
using office blocks for affordable housing
A Wellington developer is keen to promote a council affordable housing scheme that is cost neutral to ratepayers. Te Kainga is a Wellington City Council scheme aimed at people on medium to lower incomes - and those with disabilities - who may otherwise find it difficult to access appropriate housing in the city. It involves partnering with building owners and developers to convert unused office buildings, with the council taking on the lease and acting as manager. The plan was first floated by then mayor Justin Lester in 2018, and since then it has delivered 290 apartments with a goal of reaching 1,000. Paul McCorry, Wellington City Council's Manager of Housing Development and Ian Cassels a director of the development firm The Wellington Company - that has been involved in the conversions - talk to Kathryn about the scheme. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Charlottetown is clearing the way to build more housing
Eight zoning and development bylaw amendments passed first reading at the regular meeting of Charlottetown's council this week, most of them aimed at providing more housing options across the capital city. CBC's Tony Davis has more.
