Sweetwater plans Sonoma expansion

Residential community for special needs and autistic residents to add additional housing.|

Sweetwater Spectrum has been wanting to add additional housing on its Fifth Street West campus for several years, according to Executive Director Kory Stratinger.

Those needs have become more urgent, he said, with special needs housing in short supply nationwide. Sweetwater, a home for adults living with autism, has secured donations for the project, and hired local designer George Bevan and local general contractor Jon Curry to bring it to fruition.

Sweetwater submitted its permit application to the City of Sonoma Building Department last month. Its plan is to construct a 3,000-square-foot residence on one of its farm parcels, which will take capacity from 16 residents to 20.

“We hope to break ground before the end of calendar 2020, and after a 12-month building cycle, welcome four new residents to Sweetwater,” said Stratinger.

Sweetwater also recently expanded its solar capacity on campus — a number of solar panels were added in June 2020 in and around the farm area, which moved its solar production from supplying 30 percent of the campus’s energy needs to about 95 percent.

A group of families with children with autism collaborated with professionals and civic leaders to found Sweetwater in 2009 with the goal of designing and building a unique residential community for adults with autism. The community at 369 Fifth St. W. opened its doors in January 2013, and since then has provided a model for families across the country who are struggling with the lack of housing options for their adult children.

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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