Chilmark Select Board Breaks Yearlong Stall on Peaked Hill Pastures Housing Project
CHILMARK, MA — The stalled $12 million Peaked Hill Pastures affordable housing project moved forward for the first time in about a year after newly elected Rebecca Haag pressed the Chilmark Select Board to prioritize updates and next steps at their recent meeting.
Haag, who joined the board last month, requested the housing project be placed on the agenda to understand its current status and prepare for the critical upcoming phase. Peaked Hill Pastures aims to deliver four homes, 10 rental units, and two turnkey owner-occupied units through a lottery system to address housing shortages.
Town Administrator Timothy R. Carroll briefed the leadership on obstacles holding up progress, including design disagreements with Island Housing Trust — the lone respondent to an initial request for information. Island Housing Trust had indicated a one-year delay before starting and proposed design changes the town resisted. To date, the Select Board has not formally accepted or rejected their bid.
Funding remains a mixed picture: the project holds a $900,000 state infrastructure grant extended through June 2027. It also received a smaller $72,000 seasonal state allocation for electrical design and engineering, but that expires this June. Carroll warned that without an owner’s project manager (OPM) leading the work, using these funds effectively on a tight timeline will be extremely challenging.
Massachusetts law requires an OPM to oversee all public projects over $1.5 million. The town and local committees agree that appointing a dedicated, paid project manager is essential to move the complex initiative forward.
“None of us working on this project, staff or committee members, has the sole responsibility for this project. This is a very important hire because we need to have a paid individual whose responsibility is to coordinate this project,”
Officials hope to find either a person or firm to fill the OPM role within the next month. This decisive leadership is expected to accelerate planning, design, and construction phases.
Another breakthrough recently came when voters passed a zoning change raising the allowed rental units from nine to 10 — clearing a key regulatory hurdle that had stalled progress.
Why This Matters Now
Chilmark’s action signals urgent momentum toward delivering desperately needed affordable housing amid rising costs and limited options. The $12 million project represents a critical investment in community sustainability, a challenge shared by small towns and cities across the United States including Alaska’s rural areas.
With growing housing crises nationally, Chilmark’s push illustrates how local leadership and clear management structures can break long bureaucratic impasses to unlock essential residential development.
Next Steps
Watch for the Select Board’s next moves to hire an OPM and finalize project designs while navigating state deadlines for grant use. If successfully managed, Peaked Hill Pastures could begin construction in the coming year.
The town’s approach and challenges reflect broader trends: infrastructure funds risk lapsing without professional oversight and project leadership, a warning note for similar projects in Alaska and nationwide.
The Alaska Insider will continue coverage as Chilmark’s affordable housing effort unfolds, offering a timely look at how rural communities mobilize critical resources to meet escalating housing demands.
