Category Archives: A note from ACK•Now

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

In our quest to learn from communities impacted by short-term rentals (STRs), we found Kauai, Hawaii. With most of the island in conservation, Kauai is a tropical paradise. It has a population of about 60,000 locals, 20,000 seasonal residents and 30,000 visitors (on any given day).  Kauai has long faced familiar pressures: a real estate […]

There is no question this summer will be a “muted one.” But the common theme amidst all this chaos is that the island will recover and hopefully come out stronger. We must take this time to learn from the past and position ourselves for the future. Let’s start with a popular topic: short-term rentals (STRs).  […]

The island, like much of the rest of the world, has had to make some significant sacrifices in the face of this virus. It’s really about self-preservation. Which got us to thinking: “What if Nantucket took to solving over-development and year-round housing as seriously as it has COVID-19?”  Over the long-run, is one kind of […]