Riverside School One Step Closer to Wrecking Ball

A James Marshall relief mural outside of Riverside Elementary. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

It will be up to Medicine Hat city council as to whether the more than century old Riverside School will face the wrecking ball following the municipal planning commission pushing the decision to councillors.

Damaged windows at Riverside School. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

The Edwardian school open in 1917 and closed in 2017 with the commission hearing from Brad Wenzel, representing building owner Monarch Lands, about the deteriorating state of the building.

“The interior of the building has been extremely neglected,” Wenzel told the commission. “The plaster is coming off the walls, there’s been a lot of water leaks, roof has been leaking forever, not to mention the vagrant break-ins with graffiti and profanity everywhere.”

Low density housing consisting of 18 to 20 low-density homes, “nothing larger than a duplex,” will be part of a new sub-division, said Wenzel.

The building saw its zoning switched to direct control in 2019 which requires council’s approval for development work done on the one block site located between 1st and 2nd streets and bookended by Second and Third avenue NW.

The city’s Heritage Resources Working Group is recommending brick, sandstone and wood elements of the building be salvaged.

Additionally, the James Marshall clay relief mural is anticipated to remain in place.

No timeline was provided as to when the block would be developed if demolition is permitted by council.

Municipal Planning Commission Meeting Nov. 12, 2025

(Note: Technicals issues with visuals and sound are from the source)