Massachusetts blocks Nantucket affordable housing funding measure

Massachusetts lawmakers have once again blocked a proposal intended to fund affordable housing on Nantucket. The measure, championed by State Senator Julian Cyr and State Representative Thomas Moakley, would have authorized seasonal communities to impose a small fee on high-end property transactions to create a dedicated housing bank.

The fee provision was excluded from both the House and Senate versions of a larger bond bill. Local officials, including Nantucket’s housing director Kristie Ferrantella, expressed disappointment, noting that the island’s extreme market prices—driven largely by investors and second-home buyers—are pushing out year-round workers and families. Advocates pointed to the existing Nantucket Land Bank model as evidence that transfer fees can successfully fund community needs.