Land Bank To Spend $2.1 Million On Modular Housing For Staff On Hummock Pond Road

The Nantucket Land Bank Commission voted Wednesday to approve a $2.1 million proposal from the Mashpee-based construction company Pearl Construction for the modular installation of an employee housing duplex on a portion of its community garden property at 166 Hummock Pond Road.

The modular duplex will be a two-story building with three bedrooms, three baths, and a full basement including laundry and storage. The property at 166 Hummock Pond Road is located next to the Land Bank's farm stand, operated by Sustainable Nantucket, and abuts its Mount Vernon Farm property. It was sold to the Land Bank for $1.4 million by island resident Warren Pease back in 2012.

Pearl Construction, the lowest qualified bidder, was endorsed by the Architectural Consulting Group, the Land Bank's project manager. Pearl received the highest rating from the Land Bank’s evaluation committee, in addition to proposing the lowest cost.

Notably, the project's cost, including all elements, comes in under the $3 million budget — a rarity for the Land Bank and local government agencies in general.

“This is a project actually where we are below budget,” Land Bank executive director Rachael Freeman said. “Hopefully it will stay that way.”

The Land Bank is pursuing staff housing at several locations, including the new food security complex on Boynton Lane, as housing costs on the island continue to soar and local organizations struggle to house their employees.

Other recent Land Bank purchases for staff housing include a $2.9 million duplex on Bartlett Road for Miacomet Golf Course employees and a small property at 22 Hawthorne Lane.

The Land Bank has indicated that its enabling legislation does not allow it to directly fund the purchase of affordable housing for island residents. However, it has recently been making a concerted effort to get involved with the island’s housing crisis. But purchases of properties for housing its own employees, staff have said, are allowed.

Demolition of an existing, one-story, 1,500-square-foot dwelling at 166 Hummock Pond Road is a separate project.