BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Visit Stinson Properties' website, and an image pops up that might look familiar to Western New Yorkers: the Adam's Mark Hotel. But the name on this building reads "Buffalo Grand Hotel."
If Canadian developer Harry Stinson has his way, that's not all that will change in coming months.
"It is out of date. It is a functional building that is in need of a makeover," Stinson said.
Stinson says his company is purchasing the Adam's Mark Hotel from Visions Hotels. The deal hasn't closed, but he says he expects that to happen this fall. Work will begin soon after and include revamping the lobby, its bar and guest rooms, among other improvements.
"When you have a building that's that large and the scale of a makeover is not a small investment, it tends to become a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy," he said.
This isn't the first big Buffalo project Stinson's tried to tackle. Two months ago, he found out his company's designated developer agreement to renovate the Central Terminal wasn't being renewed.
"There was a lot of politics and heritage elements and committees, and that was probably the wrong place to start working in Western New York," Stinson said.
Stinson says part of what attracted him to this project is the size, as the Adam's Mark has 486 guest rooms. He says revamping it could help attract large events to Buffalo.
"That's where they could have a large event and have as many of the delegates and guests and such in one place," said Stinson. "And the Adams Mark didn't show the face of the city as well as it could have."
Because this is a private purchase, unlike Central Terminal, Stinson says he thinks there's a better chance he'll be the one to help to help change that.
Visions Hotels did not immediately return a request for comment.