A Safe Place Buys Former Manning Physical Therapy Building On Amelia Drive

A Safe Place, Nantucket's domestic violence and sexual assault prevention agency, acquired a new headquarters on Monday.

The non-profit announced that it had purchased 19 Amelia Drive, the former location of Manning Physical Therapy, which merged into Nantucket Cottage Hospital earlier this year.

The purchase price was $5.65 million, according to Registry of Deeds records. The agency stated a capital campaign associated with the purchase had begun and is being led by Paula and Bernie Swain.

"We will relocate from our current rental location on Windy Way this spring following renovations on the Amelia Drive building," said Jane Loose, Board Chair of A Safe Place. Loose expressed excitement about the possibilities that now lie ahead for A Safe Place as it takes ownership of its own building and a larger space.

"We have continued to serve the island in the capacity that we can, but with a 95 percent increase in services to survivors of domestic violence and a 52 percent increase in sexual assault cases over the past five years, we had been fast approaching a time when we were not going to be able to meet the needs of the growing Nantucket population," A Safe Place's executive director Jennifer Frazee said. 

 Rachel Larson Devine, A SAfe Place's director of development, added, "This opportunity brings us stability and room for growth both within our organization and in our vital services to the Nantucket community."

Meanwhile, Joe Manning reports, "Our physical therapy services have been successfully transitioned and integrated into the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. We are pleased with this outcome."