The nonprofit behind a plan to open a winter overnight shelter in Oak Bluffs has withdrawn its proposal after coming up against significant neighbor pushback last week.
Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard, which has operated a winter shelter in various places across the Island over the years, went to the Oak Bluffs zoning board of appeals Wednesday seeking permits to create a permanent shelter at a dormitory building on Hudson avenue. On Sunday, the organization’s new executive director Kristin Leutz announced that the nonprofit is pulling the application because the board referred the project to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for review.
“The ZBA voted to send the proposal to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for DRI, which would have significantly delayed the nonprofit’s ability to fulfill the terms of its contract to purchase the home, presenting insurmountable costs and challenges,” Harbor Homes said in a statement.
The dormitory had been used for hotel staff housing in the past, and Harbor Homes also wanted to use an attached two-bedroom apartment for families experiencing homelessness or domestic violence throughout the year. In the summer, Harbor Homes planned to rent the dormitory out for worker housing.
The listing price for the property was $2.9 million.
Many neighbors around Hudson avenue voiced their opposition to the project last week. About 40 signed a petition saying the location wasn’t appropriate and some even said they feared for their children’s safety.
Harbor Homes said the neighborhood’s resistance also factored into its decision.
“Given the outspoken opposition from neighbors on Hudson Ave., Harbor Homes staff realized it would not make sense to place at-risk individuals in a location where they are not welcomed into the neighborhood to build trusting relationships,” the nonprofit said.
The withdrawn application sends Harbor Homes back in search of a permanent location. This winter, it will return to the current shelter site at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services in Oak Bluffs, where it has a year-to-year lease. But that building is set to be torn down, leaving Harbor Homes without a place to provide the service.
“While supporters and opponents of the Hudson Ave. project may have disagreed on the appropriateness of the zoning and location for the shelter, they overwhelmingly agreed on their respect for the organization and the value of the mission,” Harbor Homes wrote.
Harbor Homes asked people to reach out to the nonprofit if they wanted to help find another location for the shelter or had ideas for potential sites.
