Major development at Edmonton International Airport announced

Real estate developer Ivanhoé Cambridge released images showing what the development at the Edmonton International Airport could look like in 2016. Courtesy: Ivanhoé Cambridge

Edmontonians got a preview of what the Edmonton International Airport will look like in the coming years Wednesday, when officials released plans for a major development near the airport.

The Edmonton International Airport and real estate company Ivanhoé Cambridge announced plans to develop about 45 acres of land, including a retail mall called “The Outlet Collection at EIA”.

The mall will include about 85 shops, and will be located next to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway, just south of Airport Road.

The developer said the project draws comparisons to another similar development in Ontario – where stores such as Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers and Calvin Klein are in one building.

“At this point in time, we’re not in a position to release any particular names or retailers but as we’ve noted in our release, it follows in the steps of our outlet collection in Niagara,” John Scott, Senior VP of Development with Ivanhoé Cambridge said.

In addition to the mall, the complex will include hotels, restaurants and office and commercial space.

It’s a project Edmonton International Airport officials have been working for.

“People will come and choose to do pre and post-stays in the region,” Myron Keehn with the Edmonton International Airport said. “Come here and spend.

“They have the option to come here, shop in advance and maybe choose a sun destination.”

The developer is the same company that built Cross Iron Mills in Calgary; The Outlet Collection at EIA is slated to be about 350,000 square feet in size, about one-fifth the size of Cross Iron Mills.

The developer said both sides are aiming to meet mutual conditions of a deal surrounding this development in early 2014, with a projected opening date for the mall in the fall of 2016.

With files from David Ewasuk