Westward Ho stands on Central Avenue as a 16-story historic tower in Phoenix, Arizona, first built in 1928 as a hotel and converted to affordable apartments for seniors and disabled people after closing to the public in the 1980s, and you know, if you walk by it, you can see that big 280-foot antenna spire-originally used to broadcast Arizona's first television station, KPHO, and that now works as a cell tower, which is kind of a sight to see from a distance, so you really can't miss it. The building offers 290 affordable housing units, in a mix of floor plans, with income-based rent usually about 30% of a resident's income, and Section 8 (202) housing available for elderly and disabled residents-right now, these apartments house 320 people in 289 rooms, and the renovation over the years made them pretty accessible, which was important after the original hotel rooms were converted.
At Westward Ho, elevators serve the multi-floor building, and there's at least one accessible unit, plus safety equipment like fire alarms and smoke detectors throughout, so that gives some peace of mind, and if you're someone who likes things simple, the environment is non-smoking, and they keep on-site mail delivery for everyone's daily needs. The lobby is easy to find, with doors from both Fillmore Street and the hotel's main front, and Arizona State University owns and leases the building now, after fixing up office space and the Concho Room ballroom in 2016, which if you go take a look, has the old turquoise and sand-colored "concho necklace" design on the floor and some oak-clad arches and chandeliers that have been there for more than eighty years, which is something to see if you like older buildings, and you can spot Southwest and Native American tile detail underfoot in the lobby too.
Over the years, they helped keep the historic look by restoring the 1928 stucco, putting in new insulated windows, fixing up the structure, and taking away those old window A/C units, which makes it look tidier from outside, and if you're interested in history, Westward Ho has some stories-Marilyn Monroe filmed scenes outside during a Jaycee Rodeo Parade, and the building hosted big dinners for Senator Carl Hayden and President John F. Kennedy, and even saw filming for movies like Psycho, Pocket Money, and Bus Stop, which is kind of neat, especially since it's also on the National Register of Historic Places with its Mission and Spanish Revival style. The convention rooms, like the Thunderbird Room, could seat 1,600 people back in the day, and gathering spots like the Turquoise Room and the restaurant called Top of the Ho on the 16th floor saw plenty of activity, while the windows on the 15th floor are leftovers from an old Gentleman's Club, and there's still a courtyard with a tile fountain for a bit of outdoor quiet.
Application requirements include having an ID, Social Security Card, proof of income, bank statements, and references for both credit and personal background, so folks know what's expected, and the building has always tried to balance comfort with affordable rents for those who need them, along with basic services for elderly and disabled residents, even if the exact programs aren't always clear from what gets shared, but you'll find a fitness center, a full-size swimming pool, and some communal outdoor spaces where residents can relax or get together. Retail shops have always lined Central and Fillmore at the base, and after the 1979 conversion, they looked hard at how to add senior living units, with planning for structural safety with concrete walls and secure foundations. The whole place stands as a reminder of Phoenix history-a landmark for nearly a century, still serving people who need affordable homes in their later years.
