Commercial Market Overview
Forest Heights is an SE Calgary neighbourhood immediately east of Forest Lawn, sharing the culturally vibrant 17 Avenue SE commercial corridor and benefiting from the spillover demand generated by International Avenue's national recognition as a multicultural retail destination. The neighbourhood's commercial nodes offer accessible rents in proximity to one of Calgary's highest-traffic SE corridors.
Forest Heights' commercial profile blends neighbourhood-serving retail, light industrial service bays, and community office space serving SE Calgary's diverse residential base. Its proximity to Deerfoot Trail NE and the SE industrial network makes Forest Heights attractive to light industrial operators who also want access to the dense SE residential market.
Key Commercial Corridors
Forest Heights' commercial activity is anchored by the 17 Avenue SE corridor it shares with Forest Lawn, providing access to the International Avenue BIA's marketing and foot-traffic benefits. The 68 Street SE axis provides a secondary commercial and light industrial corridor connecting Forest Heights northward to the Deerfoot Trail interchange and SE industrial parks.
The intersection of 17 Avenue SE and 68 Street SE forms Forest Heights' main commercial intersection, with strip retail, food service, and personal service tenants benefiting from the high cross-corridor traffic generated by Forest Lawn westward and suburban SE communities eastward. Deerfoot Trail visibility from 68 Street SE is a secondary draw for light industrial and trade users.
Commercial Asset Classes
Strip Retail — 17 Ave SE East
Continuation of International Avenue commercial east of Forest Lawn with multicultural retail, food, and service tenants.
Light Industrial Service Bays
Small-to-medium industrial bays with 68 Street SE and Deerfoot Trail access for trade contractors and distribution.
Community & Ethnic Retail
Neighbourhood-serving ethnic grocery, personal care, and food service catering to Forest Heights' diverse residential community.
Professional Service Office
Ground and upper-floor offices for immigration, financial, legal, and community service providers serving SE Calgary newcomers.
Investment Drivers
Forest Heights benefits directly from the demand spillover generated by Forest Lawn's International Avenue corridor — as Forest Lawn tightens, operators look eastward to Forest Heights for accessible rents within the same multicultural commercial ecosystem. The neighbourhood's established SE residential density provides consistent foot traffic without reliance on regional draw.
Deerfoot Trail proximity and 68 Street SE connectivity give Forest Heights light industrial a logistical advantage in SE Calgary, particularly for operators serving the residential corridor and last-mile delivery into SE communities. Affordable rents relative to Forest Lawn's core attract value-oriented operators while maintaining access to the International Avenue BIA's marketing benefits.