Completing Our Homebase: Three More Homes for Nantucket’s Year-Round Community
For more than a decade, Housing Nantucket has been transforming a once-underutilized parcel formerly known as Miller Lane into something much more meaningful: a pocket neighborhood built to support the people who keep Nantucket running.
This summer, that vision enters its final chapter.
Housing Nantucket is preparing to construct three new income-restricted one-bedroom apartments at 75 Old South Road, completing the buildout of our mixed-use workforce housing campus. Once finished, the property will provide nine year-round homes alongside our office building, with space dedicated to housing-related nonprofit organizations.
The project represents far more than the construction of three apartments. It reflects nearly two decades of planning, partnership, and thoughtful development. Together, the completed campus demonstrates what’s possible when housing is viewed not simply as construction, but as an investment in Nantucket’s year-round community.
A Vision That Continued to Grow
The story of Homebase began in 2010, when Housing Nantucket was selected through a Town of Nantucket Request for Proposals to develop the property into a Housing Resource Center with affordable rental housing.
Since then, the campus has evolved through a combination of innovative housing strategies. Existing homes have been relocated from across the island and thoughtfully repurposed, while new zoning opportunities have allowed additional housing to be incorporated over time. What originally began as a vision for just two rental homes and an office building has steadily grown into one of Housing Nantucket’s most impactful developments.
With this final phase, the campus will reach its full potential.
Meeting Today’s Housing Needs
The three new apartments have been intentionally designed as one-bedroom homes, helping address one of the greatest gaps in Nantucket’s housing market.
Many year-round residents, including teachers, healthcare workers, municipal employees, nonprofit staff, first responders, and hospitality workers, struggle to find housing that matches both their needs and their income. While family-sized housing often receives the most attention, Housing Nantucket continues to see tremendous demand from individuals and couples seeking stable, year-round homes.
The new apartments will serve households earning up to approximately 150% of Area Median Income, providing affordable rental opportunities for members of Nantucket’s workforce who are often caught in the island’s “missing middle.” Applicants will be selected from Housing Nantucket’s Ready-to-Rent list, a registry of more than 1,350 households seeking year-round housing opportunities.
Building Smarter
To complete the project efficiently, Housing Nantucket will utilize modular construction, with the majority of the building fabricated off-island before being transported to Nantucket for installation. This approach helps shorten construction timelines while maintaining high-quality, durable homes designed to serve the community for decades.
Each approximately 800-square-foot apartment will feature an open floor plan, full bathroom, in-unit laundry, and thoughtfully designed finishes that balance durability with affordability.
Looking Ahead
Construction will begin this fall, with modular units anticipated to arrive on Nantucket in late 2026. Upon completion, the three apartments will become permanent additions to Housing Nantucket’s Affordable Rental Program, ensuring they remain dedicated to year-round workforce housing for generations to come.
Our 75 Old South Road Homebase has always represented more than buildings. It demonstrates what’s possible when long-term planning, community partnership, and thoughtful development come together around a common goal.
As the campus nears completion, these final three homes represent another meaningful step toward creating a stronger, more stable Nantucket, one where the people who make the island work have a place to call home.
