A significant land parcel in southeast Rocky View County, Alta., is gaining attention as a pivotal piece of the ambitious Prairie Gateway project - an estimated $800-million inland port and logistics hub expected to reshape the region’s industrial landscape.

The 100.86-acre parcel, with a price of $18 million, is located just outside Calgary city limits along 114th Avenue S.E. and Range Road 282. Though currently zoned agricultural, the site sits within the Prairie Economic Gateway Area Structure Plan and is slated for future light industrial development.

The area is just south of one of the city’s major roadways in Glenmore Trail.

“This project is expected to create $7 billion in economic growth over the next 10 years and 30,000 jobs,” said Luke Stiles, senior associate with Barclay Street Real Estate in Calgary. “It’s a major development that will solidify Calgary’s position as Canada’s leading inland port.

“We receive so much product from Vancouver and there’s no room for industrial growth in Vancouver. It’s very confined and seaports are extremely jam packed. So the best plan when you’re dealing with Western Canada and all of Canada is to have inland ports which ducktail very nicely with the seaports and create less congestion.

"The rail aspect allows for quick distribution of goods, and it’s by rail which means less semis and trucks on the road.”

Prime site for logistics, distribution

Calgary’s Ring Road, which is in proximity of the site, provides quick accessibility to all major transportation corridors and the Calgary International Airport.

The site’s proximity to major rail infrastructure south of 114th Avenue makes it a prime location for logistics and distribution companies. Stiles noted the land lies within five kilometres of a major rail centre, qualifying it as rail-related under industrial planning guidelines.

"Most of the groups we've been speaking with are large-scale logistics providers and developers working with distribution tenants,” Stiles noted. 

“It’s very close to the rail facilities which make up a huge benefit to the area and to logistics providers in getting their product to Calgary and then to other markets from Calgary. This has cemented Calgary as a major inland port, probably the biggest in Western Canada for sure, and probably all of Canada.”

The property benefits from easy access to Glenmore Trail and Calgary’s Ring Road, connecting it to key transportation corridors in and out of the city. It also complements the booming Balzac distribution node to the north, offering a dual advantage for supply chain operations.

The Prairie Gateway development zone

The parcel is part of the broader 2,200-acre Prairie Gateway initiative, spearheaded by CANA and Shepard Development, affiliated companies tied to the Simpson family. While most of the surrounding lands are held by Shepard, this particular tract is one of the few independent holdings, creating a unique opportunity for investors and developers.

“This is one of the last major industrial land plays in the southeast with long-term upside,” Stiles explained. “The project integrates road, rail, and air logistics, helping ease pressure from congested coastal ports like Vancouver.”

Groundbreaking is expected by 2027, with the full project ultimately serving as a cornerstone of Alberta’s logistics and manufacturing future.

Aaron Latimer, manager, economic development, Rocky View County, said the project is unique with 1,500 acres of greenfield land with direct access to CPKC’s main rail line, which is crucial from a development perspective. 

He said CPKC has designated the project a gold-level site and that creates international interest, since it’s one of the top-ranked rail sites in their network in North America.

“The Area Structure Plan (ASP) has been approved by both Rocky View County and the City of Calgary. We’re in the land-use phase. It’s basically been approved by the City of Calgary’s council and Rocky View County’s council, the deal structure. The land use bylaw is coming to Rocky View County council in July.

"That’s sort of the final piece in terms of the regulatory approval and then it moves to the development stage,” he explained. 

Region could accommodate up to 500 businesses

The number of businesses that will eventually set up shop there will depend on lot sizes. Latimer said a range of sectors are being targeted from logistics, warehousing, manufacturing and high-tech, particularly industries which benefit from rail service.

“We could see anywhere from a couple hundred to as many as 500 businesses, depending on the lot sizes,” he said. “It’s a really substantial opportunity for the Calgary region to have a parcel of land of this size and magnitude, with a huge portion of it dedicated to rail service with direct access to one of the Class 1's rail network.

"CPKC with their acquisition of Kansas City Southern, they reach all the way down the North American market. They reach deep into Mexico, all through the U.S. . . . Having a rail project with access to the North American market with ease like that, it’s really a substantial opportunity.”

Latimer noted the cooperation between the City of Calgary and Rocky View County coming together to create the Prairie Economic Gateway model, which supports industrial development across the region.

“That’s important that two municipalities came together with a vision for creating jobs and economic prosperity in the region,” Latimer said. “There’s going to be new infrastructure as a result of the project. It will have I think a global eye on it if you will from a business perspective. Global companies will look at it as an opportunity because of its access to the North American marketplace.”