WELCOME TO SURFSIDE CROSSING

A community at the heart of Nantucket, beautifully designed and crafted for year-round living. Find a forever home in an idyllic community with abundant outdoor space and exceptional amenities, conveniently located near the island schools, business, and beaches.

“A sentiment of FDR’s that resonates with the developers, especially on a local level regarding the housing struggle pertaining to opportunities for homeownership on Nantucket, is well captured in his quote:

“The country needs, and unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt

We understand the complex dynamics of Nantucket, and salute the many efforts previously undertaken to create housing that’s affordable to those in our year-round community with low or moderate incomes. However, the gap has become startling large for year-round professionals. This gap is not insurmountable, but we believe it requires a new approach. It is through our decades of local experience in the building and housing sectors that we have come to accept, and ultimately embrace, the condominium concept as a viable private sector answer to this part of our island’s housing needs. ”
— Surfside Crossing team

Project Vision

Create a wide range of home ownership options for local residents, through a high-quality mixed income community.

Current Proposal

View Official HAC Plan Presentation

  • 156 condominium homes

  • 18 three story buildings, with two above grade and one at a lower garden level

  • 8 to 9 units per building

  • 39 homes affordable to residents at 80% of AMI

  • 117 market rate units priced to maximize an option for year-round Nantucket residents

Background

There is no question that homeownership opportunities are a clear and serious need in our community. The lack of housing options for year-round residents is high on the list of local concerns; rental prices are at an all-time high and the “Nantucket shuffle” leaves many long-time local residents without a stable place to live, while options for home ownership become increasingly dismal. Important members of our community are constantly forced to move away.

There is a vast group of middle-income tradesmen and professionals on Nantucket earning between $75,000 and $250,000 who earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing but too little to afford the market rate inventory. Though progress is being made in adding new rental options, the number of homes listed for sale between $500,000 and $1.5M at any point in time is typically only a handful. We, therefore, chose to create a project that will provide ownership options for these vital year-round households.

Project Site

The 13.5 acre parcel on South Shore Road (near the intersection of Surfside Road) nestled in amongst other, similar housing communities and offers an opportunity to think creatively about how to create a quality community of homes that is built and designed to the highest standards.  Though the parcel is currently undeveloped, it is on a year-round shuttle bus line and has access to town water and sewer.  The land is zoned for single family homes and could be developed by right as 10-12 single family homes targeted to wealthy owners.

Affordability and Access

Nantucket is in desperate need of home ownership options that include a mix of bedrooms in the price range of approximately $500,000 to $1.5M. By changing the unit mix to smaller, less-costly condos (with a variety of bedrooms and suitable for a mix of potential buyers), the cost profile changes for the entire project and creates an option that works for more Nantucket residents. Standalone cottages are inherently more costly to construct and less accessible to many middle-income residents.

The new design offers 39 units that are affordable at 80% of AMI. The remaining 117 units are designed to target the $500,000 to $1.5M price point that is currently underserved, in order to meet the needs and interests of Nantucket’s middle-income community.

Due to factors including project timing, market conditions, and additional costs not currently quantifiable, we are unable to determine a fixed percentage of market-rate units that will be restricted to primary residents at this time. However, our intention is to maximize that number and expect it to be well over half, a ratio we are committed to exceeding. In addition, we would welcome discussions of potential partnerships with the Town and/or affordable housing advocates to determine if there are ways to use existing funding and “covenant” programs to make the market rate units even more accessible to eligible families.

The project team remains committed to pursuing every possible avenue, consistent with fair housing requirements, to assure that the year-round residents of Nantucket are the primary beneficiaries of this new housing.

Nantucket Shuffle Documentary

Surfside Crossing was proud to sponsor “Nantucket Shuffle,” an independent documentary film about Nantucket’s Housing crisis. Reflecting the voices of many members of our community, this documentary highlights many of the reasons Surfside Crossing has so deeply committed to providing more options to middle income local residents. 

Visit www.nantucketshuffle.com/watch.