Wednesday Apr 30

Funding for restoration unclear

Westwind Barn group report expected

By Melanie Carroll / Daily News Staff Writer

More than four months after the Los Altos Hills City Council earmarked $880,000 to restore the historic Westwind Barn as long as private donors contributed equally to the effort, it's unclear how much money supporters of the equine facility have in the bank.

A needed seismic upgrade is estimated to cost at least $1.7 million, and the town would like to begin work in September, City Manager Carl Cahill said. The restoration work would help prevent the barn from collapsing in an earthquake; the seismically unsafe stables were built in the 1940s.

"Without the (private) money, all or a portion of the barn would have to be shut down," Cahill said. "We have to do something."

At the next city council meeting on May 8, the nonprofit group Supporters of Westwind Community Barn is slated to report on its fund-raising efforts.

Council Member Jean Mordo said there's been little news since the council voted in December to offer funding for the project.

"It's frustrating," Mordo said. "We're waiting to hear back."

Neither the nonprofit's president, Jeanne Seeley, nor its treasurer, Valerie Metcalfe, could be reached for comment Tuesday. Board Member Elaine Nelson referred calls to Seeley.

Board Member Colette Cranston said the nonprofit is moving forward with its capital campaign and has entered into an agreement with a professional fundraiser.

"We haven't launched the campaign (yet)," Cranston said. "I'm not sure about the money we have raised."

Cahill said the city will know much more once the group reports to the council May 8.

In the meantime, life goes on as usual at the barn, where horses are groomed, fed and exercised each day.

The town in 1976 purchased the barn for $25,000 from Hungarian Countess Margit Bessenyey after she donated 13 acres of land near 55 acres previously donated by Albert Byrne. Since 1977, the Friends of Westwind group has operated the historic barn for the town. In 2002, town leaders passed an initiative banning the barn's sale without voters' consent.


E-mail Melanie Carroll at mcarroll@dailynewsgroup.com.