Chilmark Select Board Pushes Forward on Stalled $12 Million Housing Project
Chilmark, Massachusetts, is moving decisively to revive the stalled Peaked Hill Pastures affordable housing project after nearly a year of inactivity. At her first meeting as the newly elected Select Board member, Rebecca Haag successfully sparked renewed momentum for the estimated $12 million development set to add 16 housing units, including four homes, 10 rentals, and two turnkey owner-occupied units.
Haag requested an update to gauge the project’s current status and prepare for the next phase of work on the multi-million-dollar effort. “When I asked for this to be on the agenda, it was more like, where are we currently on this particular project?” Haag said. The project had lagged after a request for information (RFI) was issued two years ago, with only the Island Housing Trust responding and projecting a one-year wait before work could begin. That timeline has now doubled.
Key Hurdles and Funding Challenges
Town Administrator Timothy R. Carroll explained that Island Housing Trust proposed design changes based on their other developments, but those suggestions were not acceptable to the town. To date, Chilmark officials have not formally responded to the Trust’s bid. Meanwhile, project progress was complicated by a previous zoning limit of nine rental units, which was increased to 10 in a town meeting vote last year—removing a critical bottleneck.
The project currently benefits from a $900,000 state infrastructure grant that extends until June 2027. Additionally, a $72,000 seasonal community allocation from the state is available for electrical design and engineering but must be used by June of this year. Despite these funds, Carroll warned that lack of an owner’s project manager (OPM) and finalized design posed a serious threat to efficient fund utilization.
“They ordered it for us with no time to spend it, so it’s kind of tight,” Carroll said about the $72,000 grant’s short timeline.
Urgent Need for Dedicated Leadership
Massachusetts state law mandates an owner’s project manager for public projects over $1.5 million — a critical first step that Chilmark lacked until now. Town officials and stakeholders agree hiring an OPM to take full responsibility is essential to advancing the initiative on schedule.
Steve Lewenberg, a Climate & Energy Committee member, remarked, “None of us working on this project, staff or committee members, has the sole responsibility for this project. We all have other stuff that’s going on. This is a very important hire because we need to have a paid individual whose responsibility is to coordinate this project.”
Officials hope to choose an individual or firm to fill that role within the next month, entrusting them with daily oversight aimed at unlocking the gridlocks that have plagued Peaked Hill Pastures.
Why This Matters Now
Affordable housing is an urgent concern across Massachusetts and many parts of the United States, including Colorado, where local governments also wrestle with rising housing costs and a lack of supply. Projects like Peaked Hill Pastures represent critical investments intended to provide diverse housing options for working families and individuals who are otherwise priced out.
By finally hiring an OPM and capitalizing on existing grants, Chilmark aims to break a prolonged standstill and deliver new homes this community desperately needs. The success of this $12 million project will be closely watched as a blueprint for navigating administrative, funding, and planning obstacles that plague similar housing initiatives nationwide.
Next Steps to Watch
The immediate priority is selecting an owner’s project manager in the coming weeks. Once on board, that leader will push design finalizations, coordinate construction plans, and ensure timely use of the $900,000 infrastructure funding before its 2027 expiration. Chilmark residents and observers across the country eager for affordable housing solutions will be looking for visible progress and clear milestones in this developing story.
Rebecca Haag’s involvement signals renewed political will to bring Peaked Hill Pastures from concept to construction, potentially inspiring other small towns grappling with complex affordable housing challenges.
