By Eliza Ridgeway

A preliminary architectural report on Westwind Barn, presented at the Los Altos Hills City Council meeting April 27, found the structure was in “good condition.”

The barn is in need of renovations to bring the facility up to code, specifically for earthquake safety, according to engineering firm Mark Thomas and Company. And according to a historical preservation study that accompanied the report, the barn may qualify as a California Historical Resource.

Retrofitting the barn for its current use, stabling horses, would cost $180,000, according to the report. If a community room or caretaker’s housing were added to the facility, two of the proposed options for future barn use, an additional $470,000 each for retrofitting would be added to the cost.

Mark Thomas based its report on a two-day visual assessment of the building. The two-story structure was originally constructed in the 1940s, with additions in 1965 and 1972. Thirty-four horse stalls, storage areas, an office, living quarters and restrooms comprise the barn’s more than 20,000 square feet.

The report said that converting part of the second story to a community room would be feasible. In addition to $300,000 to $400,000 in construction costs, the room might require an elevator, estimated at an additional $100,000, for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If staff housing or a community room is added onto the barn structure, the entire structure might be reclassified under the building code, invoking more stringent strengthening requirements.

Building a community room and staff quarters as structures separate from the barn was re-commended as the most economically feasible option.

Mark Thomas contracted Urbana Preservation and Planning to evaluate the barn’s eligibility for the California Register of Historical Resources. As a resource, the barn would potentially qualify for less stringent seismic standards.

“The bottom line is that the structure is in good condition, it has historical value and it doesn’t suffer any major structural defects or damage as a result of deferred maintenance,” said Planning Director and interim City Manager Carl Cahill.

The city council’s ad hoc committee on Westwind is reviewing the report, according to Cahill. He said the $180,000 for basic retrofitting of the barn potentially could come from park bond funds, fund raising or the town general fund.