The Stewart Cannery at Railroad Square includes 128 units of 100% affordable housing to families and individuals earning between 30% to 80% of Area Median Income (“AMI”) in downtown Santa Rosa. The community is a six-story building with 7 studios, 48 one-bedroom, and 74 two-bedroom units. Our goal is to build a strong community reputation, and achieve sustainable growth with outreach to the community, bike-to work programs, resident services, host local events and support for all residents. The Cannery has a rich history of being the hub of Santa Rosa where life revolved for many years. This exciting new community has incorporated many of the historical features of Railroad Square.

The original Cannery's exposed brick walls, concrete floors and docks, steel roof trusses, weathered and whitewashed wood ceilings and walls, and the steel water tower of 1925 speak to an earlier time and the historic character of this site. Many early arrivals were Italians who came to find jobs on the farm, the railroad, and in the Cannery picking, crating, and packing apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, and berries.

The 1920s were the Golden Years in RRSQ with thousands of passengers and freight arriving daily as Sonoma County became number eight in the nation in agricultural production.

The interior design concept will draw on historic references as well as Sonoma County's rich agricultural farm to table culture that remains and thrives today.

• There is a synergy with the use of linear wood patterns in the interiors as an accent material in common areas to subtly recall the original Cannery interior as well as the wooden fruit packing crates and bushel baskets.

• Concrete floors at lobbies, selective metal accents in railings or hardware, and artwork reminiscent of the cannery and community will lend an air of the industry that was once in the building and serve as important wayfinding graphics.

• Color palettes proposed are rich and informed by all the fruit once packed at the site plums, apples, pears, peaches, and berries, as well as the local vineyards and lavender fields that surround the area.

Demographics

Low to moderate-income families, single parents, seniors, young professionals living and working in the area, that may not need a car or need nearby transportation. Adjacent to the SMART commuter train, and walking distance to major shopping mall, amazing restaurants, modern and classic hotels, and charming local shops.