Full Breakdown
500 Modular Homes Proposed for the Roof of Prince Albert’s Gateway Mall
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Redevelopment Plan Overview
Louai Alrifai, president and CEO of Alrifai Real Estates, announced that his firm intends to convert the parking roof of the declining Gateway Mall in central Saskatchewan into 500 modular housing units. The one-bedroom modules would each be about 329 sq ft and target students, young professionals and health-care workers, with rent set at $1,000 per month including utilities. Alrifai said the development would cost $40 million for the housing and an additional $10 million to repair the mall’s interior, including a leakage issue and new retail and study spaces. Construction is slated for completion in 2027, and the firm plans to replace the displaced parking with new surface spaces.
Funding, Density and Policy Context
The project aligns with a broader national push for denser, centrally located housing. Professor Scott Bell of the University of Saskatchewan notes that recent federal incentives, such as the Housing Accelerator Fund, tie city funding to the amount of dense housing built within city limits. Bell describes the proposal as “novel” and suggests it pushes the limits of urban growth by melding “tiny container homes” with existing commercial structures.
Official City and Developer Statements
Michael Nelson, acting director of community development for Prince Albert, acknowledged a local housing shortfall and expressed openness to new ideas, noting that “any thing’s possible” pending proper reviews and approvals. Alrifai emphasized that the purchase of the mall was motivated by a desire to revitalize downtown rather than merely collect rent.
Expert and Community Perspectives
Former mayor Greg Dionne serves as an advisor to Alrifai Real Estates, underscoring local support for the concept. While CBC could not locate another instance of modular units placed atop a mall, the proposal is being watched as a potential model for repurposing underused commercial sites across Canada.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Due to the size of the land, it makes much more sense to go on the roof,” — Louai Alrifai, president and CEO
- “We do have a shortfall on some housing units that we do want to help achieve and we're always open to new ideas and new developments.” — Michael Nelson, acting director of community development for the city
- “I think anything's possible, it's just all the proper reviews and approvals have to be in place.” — Michael Nelson, acting director of community development for the city
- “These look like tiny container homes, so melding that type of construction and house type with redevelopment is maybe pushing the next step for urban growth…. not crazy, but it's pushing the limits,” — Scott Bell, a professor of geography and planning at the University of Saskatchewan