The first major offering of land at the proposed Prairie Gateway inland port envisioned under a partnership between Rocky View County and the City of Calgary has been listed for $19 million.
The tract totals 100.9 acres on 114th Avenue S.E. and Range Road 283 and will anchor the new industrial area, which will be developed under an intermunicipal agreement approved in February.
“[It’s] land that’s been owned by a speculator for quite some time, and he just thought now would be a good time to see if someone wanted to have an opportunity,” said Luke Stiles, a senior associate with Barclay Street Real Estate Ltd. in Calgary, which has the listing.
Currently zoned agricultural, the property is designated for light industrial development under the Prairie Economic Gateway Area Structure Plan.
“A lot of big developers have land plays in the area, but they aren’t directly in the area structure plan (ASP),” Stiles said. “Having the ASP is probably more of a fast-track opportunity to be involved – being assured that the services will be there.”
The plan was developed by Calgary and Rocky View County after Calgary withdrew a proposal to annex the area in favour of collaboration with the county in view of the county’s own ambitions for the area. The arrangement allows the two jurisdictions to benefit economically from development while providing strategically located industrial land.
The area encompasses 4,173 acres south of Glenmore Trail and north of the CP Kansas City mainline right-of-way known as the Shepard industrial area. Analyses suggest the area could generate over $7 billion in economic activity and create more than 30,000 jobs over the next decade.
“By improving supply chain efficiency and reinforcing an inland port position, Prairie Economic Gateway will enhance trade resilience in the Calgary region and help mitigate economic disruptions,” the project website states.
Calgary and Rocky View signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Infrastructure Bank in March, and preliminary engineering design work is set to begin this fall. Servicing will take place in 2027-30.
With work moving forward, Stiles says he’s fielded strong interest in the land offering.
“We’ve had a fair amount of activity,” he said. “We’re getting information to people throughout North America for various different uses, and then some local developers and end-users.”
An offer could be in hand this summer, Stiles said.
