Facility for adults with developmental disabilities to be located close to Mall at UTC
The Haven is ready to begin construction of its ninth single-family group home, the nonprofit organization has announced.
Jake’s Place will be a 6,000-square-foot residence featuring eight single-room suites with private bathrooms, a news release points out. The home also will feature a theatre and a sensory room.
The facility “will provide 24/7 staff support for adults with developmental disabilities,” the release explains. It will be “[s]ituated in a prime location,” the release continues, putting the residents within walking distance of the Mall at University Town Center, Nathan Benderson Park’s internationally known rowing facility, Mote Marine’s new Science Education Aquarium, “and countless restaurants and entertainment choices.”
“Jake’s Place is more than a building — it’s a promise to our neurodivergent community that they belong, they are valued, and they will always have a place to thrive, today and for generations to come,” said Andrew Riffee, a parent of one of the residents who will be moving into the home, in the release. “This home is a dream come true for many, and I can think of no better setting for it than The Haven,” Riffee added.
Halfacre Construction will build the residence, the release notes.
“We are honored to partner with The Haven on a project that goes far beyond construction,” Jack Cox, president of Halfacre, said in the release. “Jake’s Place represents a commitment to dignity, independence, and inclusion. We’re proud to help build a space that truly feels like home for its future residents,” Cox added.
A ground-breaking ceremony was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, April 25, on The Haven Campus, which stands at 4405 Desoto Road in Sarasota.