ELIAKIM’S WAY

ELIAKIM’S WAY

In a joint purchase with the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, the Island Housing Trust purchased an 8-acre parcel that was part of a larger 26.5-acre parcel in 2004. The Land Bank purchased 15.5-acres for conservation and passive recreation use, along with 4-acres of conservation restrictions from the Trust. The Trust contracted South Mountain Company of West Tisbury to design and build a pocket neighborhood of 8 single-family houses within a 3.5-acre building envelope on 8-acres. These eco-friendly houses were designed with high performance building standards, and Cape Light Compact funded solar electric systems. These LEED platinum certified houses approach net-zero energy (using as much energy as they produce). One of houses was built by Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard with a Habitat family and volunteers. The Trust worked with the Town of West Tisbury and the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority to select income-qualify households through a lottery. The eight houses were sold and the land ground leased with resale restrictions to income-qualified households. Grants were secured from the Island Affordable Housing Fund and the Town of West Tisbury Community Preservation Act (CPA) to help fund construction costs, and Cape Light Compact for high performance construction and solar electric PV panels. Construction financing was secured from the Martha’s Vineyard Bank. Photographs taken of the construction process can be view at Eliakim’s Way photographs. An article entitled Partnering Housing and Open Space on Eliakim’s Way was recently published by the Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, and an energy performance report entitled Zero-Net Possible? Yes?  was published by South Mountain Company after the first year of occupancy.