
The historic Eliza G. Yount House in Old Town Napa, built in 1884 and once slated for conversion into a B&B, is currently being refitted to become the hub of Gray Haven, a transitional home for recently released inmates receiving treatment for mental illness.
The promise of a community meeting with directors of a Napa mental-health therapy home has apparently done little, so far, to quell the fears of opponents branding it as a safety risk to the historic Old Town neighborhood.
Gray Haven Health & Wellness came in for another round of attacks at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, where a handful of letter writers — all but one of whom asked to remain anonymous — predicted the live-in facility for recently released jail inmates diagnosed with mental illness would endanger residents of neighboring homes, visitors to Fuller Park and children attending Shearer Elementary School a block away.
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City officials at the meeting reaffirmed an announcement last week that Gray Haven directors would hold an outreach meeting to share details of the project, which will be housed in the 19th-century Eliza G. Yount House after renovations are completed on the mansion at 423 Seminary St.
The forum will likely take place after Gray Haven files an application to house more clients than the planned initial number of six, the maximum allowed in a group home without local permits under California law, Community Development Director Vin Smith told council members. That application is expected before June and, if granted, would open the way toward expansions that eventually could allow up to 30 clients at the home, he said in a memo published before the meeting.
The promise of a community meeting, however, failed to mollify a resident who rejected any gesture that would indicate even the city’s tacit support for placing former inmates in the midst of apartments, homes and youth gathering places.
“Having a Gray Haven meeting with city staff only adds legitimacy to an expansion plan,” wrote the resident, who was identified only as a “concerned neighbor” and admonished the home’s leadership for not volunteering to meet with residents on their own initiative. “It gives the impression that the city believes a facility next to Fuller Park, in a residential neighborhood, is a good idea.”
Another anonymous writer echoed the criticisms of others who spoke out against Gray Haven’s operators for giving them no notice of their plans for the Yount mansion, which a previous owner had targeted for conversion to a bed-and-breakfast inn before the home was damaged in the 2014 earthquake.
“Maybe the Gray Haven people thought that since apartment people are just renters, they can just move,” the writer said. “For the Gray Haven operators, these people did not deserve the courtesy of knowing that soon they will be neighbors to people with mental illness.”
A community meeting is expected to take place online, in keeping with social distancing rules passed by the city and state after the first COVID-19 shutdowns were imposed a year ago.
The Gray Haven project is slated for review by city staff members followed by the Cultural Heritage Commission, the Planning Commission and then the City Council. Because the Yount house is on the National Register of Historic Places, the heritage commission will rule on whether its renovation preserves the building’s historic value.
Gray Haven’s founding director Patricia Gray, a former Sonoma County judge, has said the home will open as early as April with six residents before pursuing permits to take on more clients.
Gray, who did not address the council at its online meeting Tuesday, told the Napa Valley Register last month the facility will provide a supportive environment to train residents to lead productive lives after prison. In addition to room and board, the program will feature on-site therapy, job training, and recreational and social activities for stays lasting up to two years.
Although Gray Haven currently is funded through private donations, the home is seeking state certification by Medi-Cal that would unlock Napa County funding to cover treatment and care costs, Gray said in February.
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PHOTOS: A LOOK AT NAPA VALLEY NEWS IN PICTURES FOR FEBRUARY
Photos of the month: A look at Napa Valley news in pictures, February 2021

Matthew Eggers and instructor Stan Hitchcock work on a project at Napa Valley College's machine tool technology program. It's one of the few college programs that are meeting in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small groups of students meet for nursing classes at NVC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alejo Calderon, a 76-year-old vineyard worker from Napa, was one of some 400 people to receive doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine Wednesday at St. John the Baptist Parish Hall during the start of OLE Health's two-day inoculation clinic. About 1,200 people, including local farmworkers and current OLE Health patients, are scheduled to receive the vaccine through Thursday.

Patients visiting OLE Health's coronavirus vaccination clinic at St. John the Baptist Parish Hall in Napa received shots at one of seven stations, then were asked to wait 15 minutes at the hall before leaving.

Patricia Rardin celebrating her 100th birthday with escargot and champagne courtesy of Bouchon.

A RV camper near BevMo! in north Napa in late February. Residents said they have nowhere else to go.

A toy seen near an RV camp in north Napa.

Trina Wagner says giving a fire victim a quilt is like "giving them a big hug and saying how sorry we are."

Rob Grassi, right, is the millwright at Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park in St. Helena. He was recently awarded the 2020 Preservationist of the Year Award of Merit for his work restoring the Bale Grist Mill wheel. Jacob Cull assisted.

A portrait of poet Amanda Gorman, along with her poem ‘The Hill We Climb,’ read at President Biden’s inauguration, is on display downtown Calistoga, as part of the Walking Tour of Poetry.

Students, teachers and staff created about 400 Valentines which will be distributed to Cedars Care Home, Rancho De Calistoga, Calistoga Springs, and Chateau Calistoga.

"Taking Liberties," featuring more than 100 personal interpretations of liberty, is on display at the corner of Main and Spring streets.

With restaurants currently unable to provide indoor dining, a flood of picnickers spread out on Oxbow Commons on a recent weekend. Napa County is hoping COVID-19 cases fall to a level that will allow some restrictions on businesses to be lifted.

Photographer Brent Kesterson of Lasting Memories takes a photo of a Bel Aire Park elementary school student. Pictures were taken outside and with appropriate social distancing.

Napa High junior Andre Fannin, right, and freshman Finn McGrath, left, and Vintage's Aidan Rutherford finished 7-8-9 in Wednesday's Big Game meet at Kennedy Park.

Justin-Siena’s Jacob Guiducci, foreground, gets a good start en route to winning Wednesday’s meet at American Canyon High.

Vintage's Erin Meader returns a deep shot by Napa High's Sophia Kroll in the No. 2 singles match at the Napa Valley Tennis Association courts on Feb. 23.

Napa High's No. 1 doubles player Ava Moreci returns a shot against Vintage at the Napa Valley Tennis Association courts on Tuesday.

Retired art teacher Linda Rowland led a heart-themed art project at St. Helena Elementary School.

Mary Novak's tree at the corner of Hudson and Madrona is festooned with Valentine's Day decorations.

The oldest of six children, Maria "Trini" Maldonado spent plenty of time in the kitchen while growing up in Cuquío in the Mexican state of Jalisco. As a little girl, she sold "botanas" (snacks) like diced fruit with "chile de polvo" and lime. Today her recipes form the foundation of Trini's Catering, founded by her son Cristian.

Entrepreneur Brion Wise, who grew up on an fruit farm in Washington, grew cotton in Australia, developed a titanium bicycle chain, and operated a restaurant and bar in Colorado before moving to wine country.

ParentsCAN received a the generous donation from North Napa Rotary's Harvest Auction to help them support the families of children with special needs. The auction included items from local businesses and club members. Featured from left are ParentsCAN President Steve Simich, Bill Bennett, John Duser, fundraising chairperson Nelson Brooks (on photograph), Tom Webber and ParentsCAN executive director Marlena Garcia.

American Canyon senior Ezekiel Anderson, seated, poses with, from left, dad Ian, brothers Isaac and Kaleb, and mom Daniela after signing with Benedictine College on Jan. 31.

Carol Hall is hosting the Girl Scout Cookie Cupboard in her Napa garage during COVID-19.

Talia, a Napa Girl Scout, with her cookie haul. Due the the COVID-19 pandemic, cookies are only being sold online. They can be delivered in-person or mailed. There will be no public booth sales this year.

Kindergarten students in Christina Lawrence's classroom at Browns Valley school wear masks and work at desks with plastic barriers. Each has their own container of supplies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most NVUSD students are only in the classroom twice a week and learning remotely the rest of the week.

Napan Peter Edridge built a 18-foot wingspan radio controlled airplane as a pandemic project. It can fly as fast as 100 mph.

Rhonda Chadwick, of House of Broken Dolly, said these pants were the only thing she had left after the 2020 fires destroyed her Berryessa home.

Emily Smith wraps candies at Napa chocolatier La Foret Chocolate & Confections. Did you know Sunday is Valentine's Day?

Emily Smith and Wendy Sherwood of La Foret Chocolate & Confections busily prepare for Valentine's Day.

The inside of the old Press Wireless building in the Napa-Sonoma Wildlife Area. Once, equipment filled this room as workers took in radio transmissions of the news and tracked Sputnik satellites.

Napa’s new card room, Ace & Vine, opened for business this past week. Card games are temporarily being played in this outdoor tent.
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You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com