Chilmark Pushes Forward on $12 Million Affordable Housing Project After Year of Inactivity
Chilmark, MA — The stalled Peaked Hill Pastures affordable housing project gained new momentum this week as Chilmark Select Board member Rebecca Haag took charge during her very first meeting. After roughly a year of little progress, local officials are urgent to break ground on the roughly $12 million project focused on building new affordable units on Martha’s Vineyard.
Haag, elected to the board last month, requested an update on Peaked Hill Pastures, a key development aiming to construct four home units, 10 rentals, and two turnkey owner units. Turnkey units allow buyers to be selected by lottery after a developer completes the build. Haag pressed officials on the current status, highlighting concerns after the project had stalled following a request for information (RFI) issued two years ago.
Delays Due to Design Disputes and Management Gaps
Town Administrator Timothy R. Carroll detailed the complications: only the Island Housing Trust responded to the original RFI but noted it would take them a year to start. Additionally, Island Housing Trust suggested design changes that the town opposed, creating a deadlock. Carroll confirmed the Select Board has yet to formally respond to their bid, prolonging delays.
Despite challenges, progress is visible at the legislative level: a zoning bylaw amendment passed last year now allows for 10 rental units instead of nine, removing one major obstacle that had stymied the project.
Funding is secured but pressing: the project holds a $900,000 state infrastructure grant, valid through June 2027, alongside a $72,000 seasonal community allocation dedicated for electrical design engineering, which expires this June. Carroll warned that utilizing this smaller funding source will be particularly difficult without quick action.
Critical Step: Hiring an Owner’s Project Manager
Massachusetts law requires an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) for public projects exceeding $1.5 million—a role the town has yet to fill for Peaked Hill Pastures. The OPM would provide dedicated leadership and daily oversight, something currently missing as local staff and committees juggle competing priorities.
“None of us working on this project, staff or committee members, has the sole responsibility for this project,” said Steve Lewenberg, a member of the Climate & Energy Committee. “We need a paid individual to coordinate this project.”
Officials aim to select an individual or firm for the OPM position within the next month. This hire is considered critical to unlocking the project’s stalled momentum and ensuring funds can be spent within their deadlines.
What’s Next?
The Peaked Hill Pastures project stands at a pivotal crossroads. Quick hiring of an OPM and finalizing design plans are urgent priorities. Budget constraints and looming grant expiration dates add pressure for swift movement.
For low- and moderate-income families on Martha’s Vineyard, and potentially across similar rural and resort regions in the US facing affordable housing crises, Peaked Hill Pastures could become a model for tackling chronic shortages. The project’s progress represents not just local advancement but reflects a growing national emphasis on affordable housing solutions.
Stay tuned as Chilmark moves quickly to define the future of housing on Martha’s Vineyard and potentially inspire other communities nationwide.
