Scottsdale is moving ahead on a $5.4 million project intended to add new horse barns, show offices, restrooms and other improvements to its sprawling equestrian and special-events center.
The Scottsdale City Council last week approved a $200,000 contract with firm Johnson Carlier to begin preliminary work on the project at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road.
WestWorld hosts major events like the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction.
The current proposal calls for five or six new horse barns housing up to 260 horses, said Steven Fucello, the architect who designed the barns.
WestWorld has 14 permanent barns of 48 stalls each.
The proposal also calls for three new show offices, two new restroom facilities and the demolition of an A-frame building now used for the facility's telecommunications equipment.
The first phase of construction includes the new telecommunications building and all related infrastructure upgrades.
"These improvements will provide better facilities to all of the WestWorld user groups," said Corey Lew, a city project manager.
Money for the new facilities would total about $4.7 million from the city's General Fund, while about $700,000 would come out of the capital improvement budget.
The second phase would be presented to the council in April, and authorize purchase and fabrication of the barns, which takes about 10 to 12 weeks.
The final phase, presented in May, would include construction of the restroom buildings, show offices and remaining work to complete the project.
Construction is expected to begin in May.
