In 2002, the Island Housing Trust entered into a renewable 50-year ground lease with the Dukes County Regional Authority to developed a rental duplex on a one-acre parcel in West Tisbury.  Tucker Hubbell of Sunrise Construction was hired as the builder, Margaret Curtin as the designer, and construction financing was secured through the Martha’s Vineyard Co-operative Bank. The two apartments are currently managed by the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority under an agreement and rented to households earning 80% or less of the area median income.  A grant from the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Trust Fund helped fund the construction.

TAKEMMY PATH (Tisbury)

In conjunction with the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, the Island Housing Trust purchased a 3-acre parcel including an existing house and detached garage that was part of a larger 15-acre parcel in 2004.  The Land Bank purchased twelve acres for conservation and passive recreation use, along with two acres of conservation restrictions from the Trust.  The Trust renovated the existing house and built two more single family houses clustered within the one-acre building envelope using a 40B comprehensive permit. Good House Associates was hired as the non-profit builder and the Dukes County Savings Bank provided the construction financing.  In collaboration with the Town of Tisbury and the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, income-qualified households were selected through a lottery. The three houses were sold and the land ground leased in 2006 to three income-qualified households earning 80%, 110% and 140% or less of the median income.  A grant from the Island Affordable Housing Fund helped fund the land purchase.

BEACH ROSE WAY (Aquinnah)

The Island Housing Trust purchased a 1-acre property in Aquinnah in January 2003 and sold a ½-acre conservation easement to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank.  In collaboration with the Town of Aquinnah an income-qualified household was selected through a lottery.  The property has been ground leased to a household earning 120% or less of the median income who is constructing their own house. A grant from the Island Affordable Housing Fund funded the entire land purchase.

TWIN OAKS (Oak Bluffs)

The Island Housing Trust purchased a 1.7-acre property including an existing house in Oak Bluffs at a discounted price from the Island Affordable Housing Fund in July of 2005. The Trust also sold a half-acre conservation restriction to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank.  In collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard the existing house was extensively renovated.  The house was sold and the land ground leased in 2006 to a household earning 60% or less of the area median income.  The Trust moved and renovated two existing houses slated for demolition within the one-acre building envelope through a 40B comprehensive permit.  South Mountain Company was hired as the designer and builder and the Martha’s Vineyard Co-operative Bank provided construction financing. In collaboration with the Town of Oak Bluffs and the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, income-qualified households were selected through a lottery.  The two single family houses were sold and the land ground leased to two income qualified households earning 110% and 140% or less of the area median income. Grants from the Island Affordable Housing Fund, the Town of Oak Bluffs, and Habitat for Humanity helped fund the land purchase, the house moves, and house renovations.

SCHIFFER (Tisbury)

The Island Housing Trust purchased a one-acre property at 150 State Road in Vineyard Haven at a discounted price from the estate of George Schiffer in July of 2005. The Trust secured a special permit from the Town of Tisbury to build two duplexes on the property.  The second floor of a historic Greek revival house was donated to the Trust and moved to the property from downtown Vineyard Haven and has been incorporated into one of the two duplexes.  Crawford Design Associates was hired as the designer, McDonough and Company was hired as the builder, the acquisition loan was secured from the Dukes County Savings Bank, and construction financing was secured from The Life Initiative. The two duplexes were completed and sold in the summer of 2007.   The Trust sold the four condos and ground lease the land to households earning 80%, 100% 120% and 140% or less of the median income.  Grants from the Island Affordable Housing Fund and the Town of Tisbury Community Preservation Act (CPA) helped fund the land purchase and construction costs.

SANDY ROAD (Edgartown)

The Island Housing Trust purchased a one-acre property on the island of Chappaquiddick, Edgartown in March of 2005.  The Trust plans to move a three-bedroom house donated by the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank to the undeveloped lot.   The Trust will sell the house once moved and renovated and ground lease the land to a household earning 120% or less of the area median income.

© Island Housing Trust