Unless you've been out of the province for a while, you probably already know Swedish furniture giant Ikea is coming to town.
The store will not be a stand alone entity, and on Tuesday we're learning more about the look of the future development.
Documents submitted to the city reveal an ambitious plan for the site, Including housing, offices and a possible entertainment complex.
Fort Whyte Alive used to be a bit out of the way, but the new development will put it right smack in the middle of things, for better or for worse.
"Our business is engaging people in nature," said Fort Whyte President Bill Elliott.
The Fort centre has 600 acres of space to conduct its business in.
What they don't have is a lot of neighbouring businesses.
That's about to change. Fort Whyte Alive is about to get a very big neighbour in Ikea, and plans for the massive development are starting to come into focus.
In a report that will be delivered to the Mayor's Executive Policy Committee on Wednesday. City planners say Ikea hopes to build a 100 room hotel, a 16 screen movie theatre, 150 thousand square foot office park and a 500 unit condominium complex.
Bad news for Fort Whyte Alive right?
"In fact, I see that future condominium development as being a potential source of volunteers for us," says Elliott.
He says Ikea could also end up bringing in a whole new pool of visitors, and perhaps future customers like Alana Neves who is breathlessly anticipating the arrival of Ikea.
"I love Ikea! I take lots of trips down south to go to Ikea, and so I'm very excited, it's practically going to be in my backyard," says Neves.
She'll have to wait though because it's not scheduled to open until 2011 at the earliest.
With a report from CTV's Jon Hendricks
