For longtime Nantucket resident Martin “Marty” S., home has always been more than just a place to live—it’s his connection to the island he loves. Like many longtime homeowners, Marty wanted to remain in his home but faced financial challenges due to Nantucket’s high cost of living. Through Housing Nantucket’s Covenant Program, he found a solution that worked for both himself and a new island homeowner.

By subdividing his property, Marty created a Covenant home for himself while selling the newly created vacant parcel at market rate. This decision allowed him to maintain his independence, secure his housing stability, and generate extra funds to make much-needed improvements to his home. At the same time, he helped pave the way for another family to establish roots on Nantucket.

The sale is now complete, and the buyer of the market-rate lot also took a creative approach to development. Recognizing the high cost of materials and the uncertainty often associated with new construction, they sought out an existing structure available for relocation. Their goal was to create a new home in a cost-effective manner while preserving a classic Nantucket building and preventing its demolition.

To achieve this, the building was relocated from Pocomo to the newly created market-rate lot, where it will be restored in the coming months and offered for sale. The owner hopes a local community member will become its new owner and benefit from this effort. Ultimately, they take pride in seizing the opportunity to preserve and repurpose a Nantucket structure, knowing it will provide quality housing for future generations.

Marty’s story is a testament to the power of creative housing solutions—helping longtime residents stay in their homes while also addressing Nantucket’s housing crisis. His decision didn’t just benefit him; it created a new opportunity for someone else to build their future on the island.

Stay tuned as we follow more progress within the Covenant Program. In the meantime, we celebrate Marty for taking an innovative step to preserve both his home and the fabric of Nantucket’s year-round community.

Want to learn more about Housing Nantucket’s Covenant Program? Visit housingnantucket.org/covenant-homes/ to see how it works and how it can help both current homeowners and new buyers looking to establish roots on the island.