Developer wants to build 500 modular homes on roof of struggling Sask.
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Developer → want → Sask
Plan is 'not crazy, but it's pushing the limits,' expert says of Prince Albert project
Louai Alrifai says the future of a struggling mall in central Saskatchewan comes down to a math equation: "700 cars and light trucks weigh around 3,000,000 pounds.
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cars → push → pounds
Our modules weigh much less."
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modules → weigh → less
Alrifai's firm bought the Gateway Mall in Prince Albert, Sask., earlier this year and has announced plans to build 500 modular housing units on its roof, replacing a parking lot.
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firm → buy → lot
It's a reflection of a national trend toward building denser housing within city boundaries, according to one expert.
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It → build → expert
Though there are cases of builders incorporating new homes into existing malls, CBC News could not identify another case of modular housing units going on top of one.
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units → be → one
Alrifai says his company focuses on properties others don't want.
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others → say → properties
"Due to the size of the land, it makes much more sense to go on the roof," said Alrifai, who is president and CEO of Alrifai Real Estates.
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who → make → Estates
He said the one-bedroom homes would each be about 329 square feet and geared toward students, young professionals and health-care workers.
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homes → say → students
He expects them to be ready in 2027, with a monthly rent of $1,000, including utilities.
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them → expect → utilities
Alrifai's company bought the mall building earlier this year.
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company → buy → building
He said he plans to spend $40 million on the housing development and an additional $10 million on the interior of the mall, fixing a leakage issue and encouraging new stores and study spaces.
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he → say → stores
"I think people in Prince Albert are great, hardworking people and they deserve to improve their downtown," he said.
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he → think → downtown
The company intends to build more parking spaces to replace what's on the roof.
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what → intend → roof
A conceptual rendering of what a unit might look like.
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unit → look → what
The company says each will cover 329 square feet and will rent for $1,000 a month.
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each → say → 1,000
Alrifai said they're preparing to submit formal plans to the city and have received a positive reception from city staff and officials.
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they → say → staff
Michael Nelson, acting director of community development for the city, said Prince Albert needs more housing.
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Albert → act → housing
"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."
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we → have → ideas
Nelson said a series of assessments and reviews will determine if Alrifai's plan is feasible.
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plan → say → assessments
"I think anything's possible, it's just all the proper reviews and approvals have to be in place."
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reviews → think → place
Nelson said the company can apply for financial incentives.
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company → say → incentives
Alrifai said they're optimistic about receiving support, but the project is about more than money.
"
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project → say → money
I didn't buy Gateway Mall to collect rent only.
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I → buy → rent
I bought it to reposition the whole thing, to actually turn it into a true hub for the downtown of Prince Albert," he said.
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he → buy → Albert
Expert sees national trend of denser housing
Scott Bell, a professor of geography and planning at the University of Saskatchewan, said he's never seen anything quite like this proposed project.
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he → see → project
"It does seem novel.
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It → seem → ?
I have seen small house developments, I've seen redevelopment within city limits of different types.
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I → see → types
I've not seen one like this where it's using an existing structure and then placing housing units on top of that structure," he said.
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he → see → structure
Bell said there's been a rise in construction of dense housing within city limits over the past few years, since the federal government increased incentives to encourage it.
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government → say → it
He cited the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, which ties funding for cities to how much centrally located and dense housing is built.
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housing → cite → cities
"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…
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melding → look → growth
not crazy, but it's pushing the limits," Bell said.
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Bell → push → limits
The Aporia
