In New Orleans, San Francisco, and even in Martha’s Vineyard, housing advocates agree that short-term rentals have displaced long-term rentals for many years. Islanders know how difficult it is to find a decent – forget affordable – year-round rental. It’s harder than ever. But what do we know about what’s been happening? From 2010 to 2018, […]
Category Archives: A note from ACK•Now
Communities monitor STRs with online solutions.
Last week, we obtained an updated list of Nantucket’s short-term rentals registered with the State. The list is now close to 2,000 STRs. With so many STRs, how would the Town enforce any regulations? There’s an easy answer. In the last decade, several online solutions have emerged to help municipalities with short-term rental compliance. It’s good […]
Another way to help housing.
The island community has been working on many initiatives to help solve the housing crisis. Big solutions are needed, but will take time. Meanwhile, we need all the help we can get to ensure year-round islanders find a stable, affordable home. That’s where the Community Impact Fee comes in. In 2019, when the Baker Administration […]
The community’s message to the Select Board.
The Nantucket community has a long history of coming together when it matters most, to make things right. This time it’s about Ashley Erisman and Mark Beale, two very qualified Conservation Commission incumbents who have served in a balanced fashion. They both deserve to be reappointed, but for some inexplicable reason, the Select Board’s replaced […]
The environment should be the priority.
Appointments to local boards, committees, and commissions are typically straightforward and predictable – the most qualified person is selected to serve. But this week left us shocked by the Select Board’s choice for a critical seat on the Conservation Commission. Like many, we thought the incumbent Chair with extensive scientific expertise and six years on […]
The Hamptons – before and after.
As we continue to investigate communities that have tried to strike a balance between the rising impact of short-term rentals and quality of life for residents, it’s hard to ignore a fellow getaway destination: The Hamptons. In East Hampton, residents had concerns that short-term rentals were disrupting residential neighborhoods, and that tenants and guests weren’t […]
The shorter version of our short-term rental work.
Perhaps you’ve been too busy to read last week’s white paper on short-term rentals and the impact they’ve had on Nantucket? If so, here’s a one-page summary with the highlights. Click the image to go directly to the full-size version. Not only have we been creating this piece, but we have also begun to make […]
The long and short-term of it.
Our team has been working on a white paper. We started this research well before the coronavirus made national headlines. The topic is short-term rentals – the rise of online platforms and their impact on Nantucket. While short-term rentals may be drastically different this summer, we must plan ahead of the next growth wave. The […]
The Economics of Fiber
We’re all online these days. Working from home and accessing classes online is our only option. Not to mention, relying on the internet and cellphones to get in touch with loved ones. But how’s that working on Nantucket? Having spotty service is a common thing here. Lots of frozen Zooms and choppy conversations. Many have […]
Community Resilience
Attempting to get back to normal feels strange right now. While we recognize the preoccupation with getting back to work and opening the island, we also believe this represents a good time to (re)think the future. Let’s start with a question. Are we responsible for planning and paying for infrastructure that will benefit the community […]