Surfside Crossing: Progress and Plans for Nantucket’s New Neighborhood
The Surfside Crossing development in Nantucket is progressing, and is addressing housing needs for year-round residents and seasonal visitors. Infrastructure work is nearly complete, with foundational elements in place. A key focus of the project is on affordable housing with year-round occupancy restrictions. High-quality amenities aim to foster an inclusive neighborhood experience. Despite delays, the developers are committed to delivering a sustainable community to meet long-term housing needs.
As the Surfside Crossing project continues to move forward, we’d like to provide an update to the Nantucket community regarding the status of the development, the legal and regulatory processes, and their commitment to creating a neighborhood that benefits both year-round residents and seasonal Nantucketers. Here’s a breakdown of the latest developments and next steps.
Legal Update: Remand and ZBA Review
The Surfside Crossing project is currently before the Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) as part of a remand from the Superior Court. The developers are asking the ZBA to make a decision on the current version of the project and expect the process to continue through March 2025. The developers anticipate that the matter will be returned to the Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) by late February for further review.
Infrastructure and Construction Progress
Significant progress has been made on the project. The infrastructure for Surfside Crossing is almost fully installed, with nearly all of the utilities, roads, and foundational elements already in place.
Year-Round Housing Commitment
One of the most important aspects of Surfside Crossing is the commitment to creating homes for year-round Nantucket residents. The goal is to ensure that at least 75% of the homes in the development, approximately 117 units, are designated as year-round, owner-occupied homes. This includes 39 units already restricted under the state’s 40B program and an additional 78 units that are intended to be subject to year-round restrictions through various partnerships with local stakeholders.
To facilitate this, the developers are offering stakeholders “options” to restrict units, which function similarly to “right of first refusal” agreements. These options provide flexibility for future homeowners while ensuring that a significant portion of the development is accessible to Nantucket’s working families and long-term residents.
A Diverse and Inclusive Neighborhood
While 75% of the homes are planned to be reserved for year-round residents, the remaining 25% of the units would remain unrestricted. This approach is intentional and aligns with a broader vision for Surfside Crossing as Nantucket’s first truly diverse neighborhood—one that supports a range of socio-economic backgrounds, including both year-round residents and seasonal residents.
To that end, the developers are including a variety of high-quality amenities designed to enhance the experience of living in Surfside Crossing and to foster a sense of community, encourage interaction, and provide residents with spaces for recreation and connection. These amenities include:
– A bowling alley
– Game rooms
– A pool and park
– A playground
– Community rooms
– A gym/exercise classroom
– A community workspace
– A half basketball court
– A full-time property manager
Looking Ahead to Surfside Crossing
As many in the community are aware, the timeline for delivering these homes continues to be delayed. Despite these challenges, the development team remains committed to moving forward with the project and is working diligently to overcome these obstacles. The development team is excited about the progress that has been made so far and the potential that Surfside Crossing holds in addressing Nantucket’s housing needs.
In the coming months, the developers remain oriented towards ensuring that Surfside Crossing is built to meet the needs of our community. While the legal process continues, they remain focused on delivering a neighborhood that will provide long-term housing solutions for Nantucket’s residents. To see details about the development, including images of the proposed amenities, please visit the Surfside Crossing brochure. Stay tuned for updates as this project moves closer to breaking ground and creating this exciting new neighborhood.