Calgary city council has unanimously approved a land-use amendment to convert a park-and-ride lot at Franklin LRT station into a multi-residential housing development, the Calgary Herald reported.

The project will transform the southside parking lot into apartment buildings ranging from six to 26 storeys, offering a mix of affordable and market housing.

Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra expressed his enthusiasm for the redevelopment, calling it a significant step in Calgary’s urban planning evolution.

“I’m laser-focused now on making sure that we’re not just creating housing but we’re creating a better experience for all users, particularly for people in the existing neighbourhood to access the LRT system, higher quality public space and interface with new neighbours,” he told the Herald.

Carra noted that the redevelopment aligns with work he began in 2005 while completing his his master’s degree thesis.

“The realization is that we can no longer afford to have blank parking lots that are marginally used, disconnecting our neighbourhoods from assets like LRT stations,” he said.

As councillor, he has spent years shaping Calgary’s approach to transit-oriented development. He sees this project as part of a broader city-wide shift.

During the summer, the city invited housing developers to submit proposals for the site. Six developers applied to purchase the land, according to David Coroux, the city’s planning lead for transit-oriented development, the Herald reported.

With the land-use amendment now approved, the city will proceed with discussions with the successful bidder. Coroux estimated that finalizing the land transaction could take up to three months.