Proposed house for autistic adults draws support

Plans for a residential facility that would provide independent living services for autistic adults was met with praise from the Village of Grafton Plan Commission on Tuesday.

“We want the adults to live as adults,” development organizer Rebecca Goldman said. “Most importantly, life will go on for these individuals after their aging parents are no longer there to care for them.”

The proposed site for the development, called Woodside Prairie Supportive Housing, is at the northwest corner of Hunter’s Lane and Port Washington Road on the village’s east side. The existing 14-acre parcel is undeveloped and will be divided to create a 6.5-acre parcel on the western half of the site.

The commission reviewed a concept plan for the development, which would include four six-unit buildings for the residents and a 10-unit apartment for 20 Concordia University Wisconsin graduate students who would serve as on-site managers. The total number of people living at the facility would be 44. 

The property would also include a community center, walking paths, a greenhouse and garden areas. 

“There’s nothing like this in the area,” Goldman said, noting the typical age range of the residents would be between 18 and 35.

Goldman said the graduate student managers would be trained by representatives of the Milwaukee Center For Independence, a disability services agency. There will also be a certified nurse at the facility.

To accommodate the proposal, the land would have to be rezoned from agricultural to medium density multi-family residential. The development will also need a conditional-use permit, which will be discussed at a public hearing.

Goldman said the facility, which is expected to be built next spring, would cost about $5.5 million.

Goldman and her husband Alan said they previously considered Port Washington for the development, but those plans fell through. The couple said they wanted to create the facility because they have a 33-year-old son, Michael, who has autism.

“Having this is something that’s really amazing. I think it’s something that would help my family,” commission member Amy Plato said, noting she has a nephew with autism.

Goldman said Social Security and Medicaid would pay the cost of living for the residents.

“Wisconsin’s lack of a wait-list for Medicaid waiver programs presents the opportunity to offer this type of program to families without asking them to pay more than $60,000 per year for services,” Goldman said.             

“With the right kind of capital structuring and philanthropic support, Woodside Prairie will offer families the ability to have their loved one with autism live in the community with no additional financial burden on the family.”

Goldman said there are 12 families already interested in the facility. 

The commission took no action on the plan during the meeting, but voiced its support by consensus.