Habitat updates Waite Drive construction; Wiggles Way nearing occupancy

Habitat for Humanity representatives told the Nantucket Affordable Housing Trust that construction at Waite Drive is progressing and some homes could be ready for occupancy later this summer, while the Trust’s construction committee reported that Wiggles Way is issuing certificates of occupancy and about 22 year‑round households will move in this spring.

The Waite Drive development is a six‑unit project consisting of four single‑family homes and a central duplex, with a mix of two‑ and three‑bedroom units. Joe Grouse, representing Habitat for Humanity on Nantucket, said crews poured the first foundations for two single‑family homes about a year ago and that the interior work on the first pair (5A and 5B) is at the final painting and finish stages. Construction for the duplex foundation was scheduled for the day after the Trust meeting. Grouse said 5B may be the first ready for occupancy and that homeowner completion of interior tasks will determine final move‑in dates.

Richard Hussey, also speaking for Habitat, summarized unit sizes and likely sales prices under the East Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) formulas discussed by Habitat. He said the two‑bedroom single‑family homes are being priced at roughly $250,000, the three‑bedroom homes at about $304,000, and that the duplex units will be priced in the mid‑$250,000s (he cited about $256,000 after a recalculation). Hussey and Grouse said the affiliate has spent roughly $2.1 million to date against a construction budget target of about $4.34 million and expects the project to finish near the planned $4.4 million for construction (land and infrastructure were not included in that construction total).

Penny Dye, vice chair of the Affordable Housing Trust and a member of the Wiggles Way construction committee, reported on the separate Wiggles Way rental project. Dye said ground was broken in spring 2022 and the development includes 22 units across eight buildings (one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom configurations, including two accessible units). Dye said Housing Nantucket acquired and fully permitted the 1.97‑acre site in 2021 for $4.1 million; the project’s total cost including land, design, permitting, infrastructure and construction is approximately $22 million. The construction committee reported certificates of occupancy had been issued and that about 22 households — roughly 70 people — were expected to move in between the time of the meeting and the April town calendar referenced in the meeting packet.

Both Habitat representatives and Trust members emphasized that homeowners’ continued completion of required “sweat equity” and finish work affects timing. Hussey described Habitat’s local affiliate expectation of roughly 350 sweat‑equity hours per household, which can be earned by the homebuyers and by friends or family who assist. Trust members asked for continued updates and thanked Habitat and town staff for coordination on billing and reimbursements.

The Trust did not take formal binding action on either construction project at this meeting; the session included status reports, scheduling estimates and financial summaries from project leads.

Ending: Trust members said they will include the updates in forthcoming quarterly reports to the Select Board and continue coordinating volunteer and finish‑work assistance as the projects move toward occupancy.