Inside an $18 million face-lift at the historic Westward Ho

Owners of the Westward Ho in downtown Phoenix debuted on Wednesday a roughly $18 million renovation of the former hotel, which now is used for affordable housing.

Major changes include restoring a historic fountain, adding a lightning-suppression system and updating the infrastructure of hundreds of units in a nearly 90-year-old building.

State and local leaders said the reopening preserves options for low-income tenants to live an urbanizing city center, while recognizing a piece of Phoenix’s history. The funding came from a $44 million refinancing project, completed in 2015, that involved a variety of public agencies and private partners.

The 1928 building — topped with a redand-white antenna — is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 16story tower is houses nearly 300 people, most of them elderly or disabled.

An 18-month renovation period was inconvenient for them, said Jonathan Bentz, vice president of acquisitions and development for Cathedral Development Group Inc., which owns the building through an affiliate. All tenants remained on-site, but some had to temporarily move rooms or couldn’t access their apartments at times, he said.

Now, though, improved plumbing and electricity make the units more efficient, Bentz said. A renovated courtyard and fountain pay homage to the former hotel’s splendor.

“We really feel like the building is on

PHOTOS BY TOM TINGLE/THE REPUBLIC The Westward Ho, an iconic downtown Phoenix building that once was a hotel, recently underwent an $18 million renovation. The building is now used for affordable housing, but its ornate lobby looks much as it did in 1928, when the hotel was constructed.

The Westward Ho now houses about 300 people, most of whom are elderly or disabled.