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849 2nd St. SE is the site of two proposed apartment building. Jesse Gill/CHAT News
DEVELOPMENT

Apartment buildings proposed on vacant lot across from Medicine Hat Remand Centre

Mar 4, 2025 | 3:57 PM

A proposed apartment development in the flats area of Medicine Hat would see 76 additional rental spaces available when completed.

First Choice Property Management, which manages properties owned by Medicine Hat’s Drew Barnes, is looking to build two apartment buildings over the next four years in the vacant lot across from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre.

Property Manager Davis Barnes said each building will be wheelchair accessible with wide hallways, which is important.

“We’ve certainly seen a huge influx in inquiries for rental properties, and we haven’t had the product to supply to them, and we know it’s a similar story,” Barnes said.

“We want to be able to provide a need for the community, supply a niche for people who need some other options in rental housing. We want to provide them high-quality rentals at a good price.”

Barnes said the design of the buildings will be similar to their current rental property at 749 8th St. Southeast, which is also wheelchair accessible.

First Choice manages over 500 units across Alberta and Saskatchewan.

With final approval from the city, the first apartment with 38 units could be open as early as the spring of 2027.

The second building, also five stories with the same amount of units would be completed by 2029.

Barnes said there’s some great incentive programs offered by the city to develop that lot in particular.

“We’ve been working closely with Economic Development of Medicine Hat and the city, and they’ve been great in getting this project kind of off the ground,” Barnes said.

First Choice is in the process of contracting a construction management company to get started on the project, with final approval from the city.