A new approach is being taken by Louai Alrifai to revitalize a struggling mall in central Saskatchewan. Alrifai, the president and CEO of Alrifai Real Estates, acquired the Gateway Mall in Prince Albert earlier this year. His vision involves constructing 500 modular housing units on top of the mall, replacing the existing parking lot.
This innovative move aligns with the national trend of promoting denser housing developments within urban areas. While integrating new homes into existing shopping centers is not uncommon, the installation of modular housing units on top of a mall is a unique concept, as per industry observations.
The compact one-bedroom units, each around 329 square feet, are targeted at students, young professionals, and healthcare workers. Expected to be available by 2027, the monthly rent for these units, inclusive of utilities, is set at $1,000. Alrifai plans to invest $40 million in the housing project and an additional $10 million to enhance the mall interior, address leakage concerns, and attract new businesses and study spaces.
Alrifai emphasized the potential of the project to uplift downtown Prince Albert, highlighting the need for urban improvement. The company aims to create additional parking spaces to compensate for those lost due to the housing development. Greg Dionne, former mayor of Prince Albert, is advising the firm on this transformative endeavor.
Formal plans for the project will soon be submitted to the city, with positive feedback received from municipal authorities. Michael Nelson, the acting director of community development for Prince Albert, acknowledged the city’s housing shortage and expressed openness to innovative solutions like Alrifai’s. The viability of the plan will be determined through a thorough evaluation process.
Scott Bell, a geography and planning professor at the University of Saskatchewan, commended the project’s novelty, emphasizing the recent surge in dense housing constructions within city limits. He noted the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund as a key driver for such urban development initiatives, praising the integration of container-style housing units into redevelopments as a progressive step in urban growth.
Alrifai’s aspiration goes beyond mere financial gain, aiming to transform the Gateway Mall into a vibrant hub for downtown Prince Albert. The project signifies a forward-looking approach to urban revitalization, blending innovative housing solutions with commercial redevelopment to enrich the cityscape.
