By Lauren McSherry

Town Crier File photo Los Altos Hills City Council is examining improvements that can be made to update Westwind Barn.

The Los Altos Hills City Council is considering improvements for the town-owned barn on Altamont Road.

Councilmembers indicated during their Sept. 15 meeting that they are receptive to the idea of restoring Westwind Barn, although they stipulated that the project should be less expensive than the $4 million renovation of Stanford University’s Red Barn. That project included installing towering palm trees outside and imported Brazilian walnut for the barn’s interior, containing 67 stalls.

Elaine Nelson, chairwoman of Supporters of Westwind Barn, the non-profit that raises money for capital improvements for the barn, said the group would like the town to identify the restoration’s total scope and a dollar amount for the supporters to raise.

“The barn is older and quite a lot needs to be done to update it,” Nelson said. “An assessment needs to be made to address deferred maintenance and repairs.”

The town bought the 34-stall barn in 1975 for $25,000. Despite its somewhat rundown condition, Countess Margit Bessenyey, notable for her Hungarian thoroughbred horses, once owned the barn. Its ornate oak double door - carved in Mexico - and an elaborate iron spiral staircase - imported from France - are remnants of Bessenyey’s refined taste. The barn has become a fixture in the community for its horse-riding programs and youth camps.

In other news, in the beginning of September, the state approved $154,000 to build paddocks and four additional stalls at the barn. The money will help the parks and recreation department reinstate the horse-riding program suspended this year because of a lack of infrastructure.

A dearth of buildable space on the hillside property presents a challenge for the town.

Councilman Mike O’Malley has suggested building a new arena that would be three-quarters the size of the barn’s upper arena.

Only the town’s riding programs would use the new arena. He recommended not building the four additional stalls and instead boarding two horses at the barn. It costs $500 per month to board a horse, about $250 less than the average cost in the area.