The historic Buffalo Hotel in downtown Red Deer.

By Sheldon Spackman

Preparing For The Next Phase

Renovations planned for Buffalo Hotel

Oct 29, 2019 | 11:00 AM

The owners of the Buffalo Hotel in downtown Red Deer say the historic building is likely to be converted into some type of living accommodations next year once its current tenants move out by the end of November.

Seth Schalk, manager of Potter’s Hands Development Ltd. says nothing is set in stone yet, but points out they do plan on renovating the Buffalo’s suites once they’re free to do so.

“We’ll be fixing them up and bringing them back to a good state of being, and then we’re going to look at renting them out as just suites downtown,” he explains. “That’s not to say that that wouldn’t change, because we’re definitely open to other suggestions and other options.”

When those renovations would be complete, however, is too early to say, adds Schalk.

“That is hard to know because I haven’t been in a bunch of those rooms because there’s tenants living in them. Once they move out, we’re going to have to do an assessment and see what kind of damage there is inside of the rooms and what it’s going to take to fix them up. It’s going to take up to six to nine months, depending on how bad they are and what kind of work they need.”

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Tenants currently residing at the Buffalo receive supports and programming services from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Central Alberta Region, but will soon be relocating to the former EconoLodge Inn and Suites at 4124 50 Avenue by the end of November.

According to City Archives, the Buffalo Hotel is important for its association with the theme of post-Depression commercial development in Red Deer and significant for its Streamlined Moderne design influences.

Originally called the Alberta Hotel, it was renamed the Buffalo by former owners The Calgary Brewing and Malting Company and their well-known buffalo logo.