The Inquirer and Mirror
This editorial was printed in the May 20, 2021 issue of The Inquirer and Mirror.
(May 20, 2021) Short-term rentals, whether three days, three weeks or three months, have long been part of the Nantucket economy. Ever since the island became a destination for summering, around the turn of the last century, rentals of cottages and private homes have been part of our culture.
These rentals provide visitors with lodging that has all the conveniences and amenities of home and can accommodate families or groups of friends as an alternative to a full-service hotel or bed and breakfast. These short-term rentals on Nantucket run the gamut from simple cottages to palatial homes with pools, spas and top-of-the-line appliances in sleek, new kitchens.
At the same time, the ability to rent one’s property in this fashion has made home-ownership possible for many long-time visitors to the island who want to own a piece of Nantucket and visit when they can.
Does the fact that large off-island firms are investing in houses to use as rentals reflect any of the local tradition of being able to get by, or to keep your summer home, by renting? No. Does it seem like one more case of simply monetizing this island? Yes.
But Article 90, which will be considered by voters at the Annual Town Meeting June 5, throws the baby out with the bathwater.
This article would sharply restrict the ability of homeowners to rent their properties, claiming that short-term rentals are contributing to the erosion of affordable yearround housing. That’s a stretch.
The proponent of Article 90, ACK•Now, plans to introduce an amendment on the floor of Town Meeting that will limit restrictions for year-round round homeowners who have short-term rentals. That’s not good enough. This would not help our many long-time property owners who don’t live here, but love Nantucket and can only afford to spend time here by renting out their property when they are not on-island.
Article 90 should be defeated. It is not in the best interests of Nantucket economically or socially.
Instead, the town should consider convening a group, including longtime residents and visitors who rent in the summer and shoulder seasons to pay the bills or meet the mortgage on their second home, to explore what kinds of sensible regulations might be enacted to prevent the scooping up of these kinds of properties purely for investment purposes.
The group could be charged with reporting back its recommendations in time for action at next year’s Town Meeting.
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May 21, 2021 at 07:30PM
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Opinion: Vote No on Article 90, Short-term Rentals - The Inquirer and Mirror
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