SDC ‘site assessment’ to be unveiled

Long-awaited report on building conditions, open space potential revealed June 23 at Hanna Boys Center|

The future of Eldridge draws a step closer.

That’s because state and local officials on Saturday are holding a public meeting to unveil and discuss the long-awaited site assessment of the Sonoma Developmental Center facility in Eldridge. The town hall meeting with be held at 10 a.m. at Hanna Boys Center at 17000 Arnold Drive.

Representatives from both state Senators Bill Dodd’s and Mike McGuire’s offices are expected to attend.

The Sonoma Developmental Center was marked for closure by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015, with a directive to relocate its then-nearly 400 residents to smaller care facilities by the time of SDC’s scheduled closure at the end of 2018.

In 2017, consulting firm Wallace Roberts & Todd won the $2 million contract for architectural and engineering services to prepare “a comprehensive existing conditions study and an opportunities and constraints summary and analysis for SDC.”

Public input in the assessment process was fielded in September 2017 and March 2018, at meetings of the SDC Community Advisory Committee (CAC) whose members include a range of local stakeholders.

Saturday’s workshop will provide an opportunity for the community to learn about the key takeaways from the assessment; talk with the WRT consulting team members about assessment findings; offer thoughts and feedback about the site assessment; and learn about next steps in the process.

Among the issues discussed will be findings on the condition of the buildings, the below-ground infrastructure and the state of surrounding issues like traffic and open space.

“The report (that will be presented on June 23) may be used to inform future plans for the SDC,” said Jennifer Iida, a public information officer with the state Department of General Services. Officials from General Services and consultants with Wallace Roberts & Todd will discuss the assessment of the current conditions at the 860-acre facility, which has 1.3 million square feet of building space. Potential uses that have been bandied about since Gov. Brown announced the site’s impending closure include the creation of a home for veterans, a Sonoma State satellite campus, an equine center, a cannabis farm, open space, a Bouverie Preserve extension, among others.

There will be a question and answer session at the close of the presentation.

SDC is the oldest facility in California established specifically for serving the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. The facility opened its doors to 148 residents on Nov. 24, 1891, culminating a 10-year project on the part of two prominent Northern California women who had children with developmental disabilities.

In 1909, the name was changed from the California Home for the Care and Training of the Feeble Minded to the Sonoma State Home. In 1953, Sonoma State Home became Sonoma State Hospital; and in 1986, the name was changed to Sonoma Developmental Center. Over the years, the facility has expanded several times, including two major expansions: A $13 million expansion program was initiated in 1948, and another $5 million was appropriated in 1956. The most recent renovation took place between 1979 and 1982, during which all the living units were renovated at a cost of about $1 million per building.

At one time SDC cared for almost 1,200 patients, but that number has been eroding steadily. In May 2015, there were about 400 in residence. As of February, there were only 149 individuals living on the Eldridge campus. Most have been transitioned to residential alternatives in the North Bay. Nancy Bargmann, of Developmental Services, has been overseeing the transition of SDC clients since 2015. More than 300 residents have been placed, some who have lived in Eldridge for 70 years. DDS has been locating and renovating specialized homes in many communities. Currently about 16 homes are completing renovation, with 66 ex-SDC staff now working in those homes.

A “Transform SDC” website was set up in 2014 to provide the Sonoma Valley community - and those interested in the future of the Sonoma Developmental Center - a forum and information source for news related to the closure of SDC.

Email Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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