June 30, 2025 – This summer marks the official completion of Wiggles Way – a pocket neighborhood of workforce housing developed by Housing Nantucket to meet the critical need for stable, year-round rental housing. Located off Fairgrounds Road just next to Faregrounds Restaurant, the development brings 22 new apartments across eight thoughtfully designed buildings into the heart of the island. With a total of 39 bedrooms, the project adds essential accommodations for Nantucket’s working families and delivers on Housing Nantucket’s mission to create long-term housing solutions for those who keep the island running.

Tenants began moving in on April 1st, and as final touches like paving and landscaping wrap up, a true community is taking shape. For residents, the transition into Wiggles Way represents more than just moving boxes, it’s the beginning of a new chapter.

One household, split between employee housing and a temporary rental, is finally under one roof again. A longtime islander, accustomed to bouncing between seasonal rentals, now has a permanent home to return to every night. Another family, previously facing displacement due to the sale of their home, has settled into an ADA-accessible unit where their daughter, who requires special care, can remain supported by her community and school system. For a single mother of two, moving to Wiggles Way means her children now have the space and the security they have craved for so long.

Wiggles Way is part of a larger vision to expand the island’s Parallel Real Estate Market: a protected inventory of homes that remain accessible to year-round residents through permanent deed restrictions, income qualifications, and community-focused programs. These homes serve as an anchor for essential Nantucketers—educators, caregivers, tradespeople, and community leaders—who enrich and sustain island life for all.

The neighborhood also sets a new standard for environmental sustainability. A 120 kW photovoltaic (PV) solar system installed on-site incorporates bifacial solar panels on two carport pergolas and became fully operational in December 2024. The system is projected to generate 133 MWh annually, offsetting energy use across the property and helping the entire development reach net zero energy usage. This installation was made possible through a grant from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, a loan from the Nantucket Affordable Housing Trust, and generous support from Remain Nantucket and Housing Nantucket’s donors.

The Wiggles Way workforce housing development began in 2021 when the family of Joan and Fred “Wiggles” Coffin chose to sell their two-acre property to Housing Nantucket through a collaboration with the Town of Nantucket’s Affordable Housing Trust. From the groundbreaking in January 2022 to the pouring of the foundation, delivery of the modular boxes by barge,  setting the boxes, finish work, and the lottery for the affordable units—we’ve tracked the progress every step of the way.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of Housing Nantucket’s partners, the support of Town Meeting voters, and the generosity of those who continue to invest in our work.

This community project represents a true collaborative effort and a shared achievement we can all be proud of. Stay tuned as we continue to share stories from Wiggles Way and beyond. The impact has just begun.