One of downtown Truckee’s historic hotels could be restored to its former glory by the end of next summer.

The Star Hotel, located on West River Street, will undergo restoration starting this winter, eventually opening with retail, residential, and office space. Once final details are approved, owners Claudia Tatum and David Vaille will begin interior and exterior work modeled after photos taken of the old hotel around the year 1880.

“Historic restorations are always more challenging, but it’s also always a lot of fun to get to excel at the things that matter as a tradesman,” said Vaille, the contractor and half owner of the project, who has done six other historic restorations in Truckee in the past. “It’s why I love living in Truckee.”

With interior work beginning this winter, and exterior work by next spring, Vaille said he hopes the building will be in operation by next August.

Once operational, the Hotel will include a small retail space in front, a couple of two bedroom apartments in back, and offices for both Tatum Enterprises and Vaille Construction upstairs, Vaille said.

The proposed work, which includes projects from repairing the roof and replicating the historic railing, to landscaping, and even full American’s with Disabilities Act access, went before the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 10, said Denyelle Nishimori, associate planner for the Town of Truckee.

“They (the commission) thought it was a great project ” they asked for additional details, but overall they were glad to see it,” Nishimori said.

The renovation standards to which Truckee holds projects in the Truckee Historic National Register District come from the Secretary of the Interior, Nishimori said.

The Star Hotel was built by George Schaffer in 1867 to board his lumber mill employees.

Schaffer and Joseph Gray operated the first lumber mill in the area, but went their separate ways, with Schaffer moving his mill out toward the Martis Valley.

After Schaffer moved his mill, the building began serving as a hotel starting in 1871.

” Information from town documents and the Truckee-Donner Historical Society