Increased demand for serviced industrial land is prompting the City of Calgary to look at the inventory, including taking action on several projects around the city and seeking more reserve land for the future.

James Robertson, representing City of Calgary Corporate Properties and Buildings presented an update on several projects, and an idea as to where the city intends to go in regards to future industrial land development and sales at the Calgary Real Estate Board Forecast 2007 Trade Show and Conference Jan. 17.

“Presently with vacancy rates hovering around 1% in the industrial building end of things, there are significant pressures to bring serviced land to the marketplace,” he told a packed house of REALTORS® and media.

Robertson said the city has been working diligently to address the issue but the inventory hasn’t been able to increase much.

However, if the current annexation of approximately 25,000 acres of land in the north, east and west of the city from the MD of Rocky View is approved and finalized, it could ease some of the city’s industrial growing pains.

Robertson explained that Corporate Properties currently operates under a mandate that requires the City to have a one-year supply of serviced industrial land available and a planned supply for three years.

“In the past ten years the City has purchased land shortly before we started to develop it,” Robertson said. “But in the coming year, we plan to start acquiring land for more longer term planning.”

While it’s difficult to keep up with the increasing demand, the City currently has several projects underway ranging from the planning process to construction and lot sales.

Eastlake Industrial Centre

Located in Calgary’s East Shepard industrial area, it’s situated north of 114 Ave. SE, east of Barlow Trail SE and west of 52 Street SE.

When completed, the centre will provide approximately 430 acres of serviced land for Calgary’s light industrial land market.

The Eastlake Industrial Centre’s Phase 1 sold 75 lots on approximately 200 acres of land in 2003-2004 and the first owners started occupying buildings in the fall of 2005.

In spring 2006, Phase 2 sold 36 lots on approximately 64 acres of land with the first owners taking possession in the fall of 2006.

Phase 2A sales closed at the end of November 2006, selling 14 lots totaling 131 acres.

Phase 3 is now 50% complete, with sales anticipated to begin in June or July of this year.

There will be approximately 28 lots available with I2 zoning, and will include a series of parcels ranging from 1 to 16 acres, totaling about 100 acres, Robertson said.

Great Plains IV

Located on 76 Ave. SE, the first three phases of the project are already complete.

According to Robertson, the City has initiated planning on this area, expecting construction to begin in late 2007 with the release of lots in 2008, totaling approximately 160 acres of land.

Robertson added the land is considered prime industrial land, and while it has not been developed as of yet because of a storm water moratorium on the area, the completion of the Shepard Stormwater Project—which will provide drainage to that area—intends to address that.

Once for sale, there will be a variety of lots available ranging from one acre to seven to 12 acres.

NW126

This land in the northwest end of the city was purchased from the Province.

Robertson said an outline plan was submitted and comments are currently being evaluated, as well as detailed engineering is getting underway.

The City is anticipating Phase I to be released as early as late 2007.

Available will be 135 acres of blended zoning.

Aurora

This site is adjacent to Airport Trail NE. Preliminary planning has taken shape and indicates a commercial office development as residential cannot be built there as it is under the airline flight path.

Robertson said the project is on hold in anticipation of the extension of Airport Trail westward across Nose Creek Valley, which is needed to access the site.

The road extension was slated for 2008 but he said it will probably be deferred until 2010 at the earliest.

Dufferin

This site is just east of 52 Street SE.

According to Robertson, the City has been in ongoing discussions with Canadian Pacific Railway about the possibility of expanding into the mobile yard that exists there as light industrial lands, however, thus far talks are in preliminary stages only.

For more information on the City’s industrial projects visit www.calgary.ca/realestate

—Angela Anderson is a Calgary Real Estate News reporter.