Plans for a skilled nursing home and workforce housing took a step forward last week after Martha’s Vineyard Hospital officially transferred ownership of some of its land in Edgartown to Navigator Homes of Martha’s Vineyard.

The two entities have been working to build a 66-bed nursing home on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, starting site work in May. On Jan. 10, the hospital conducted the land transfer to Navigator, which will run the nursing home and take patients from Windemere nursing home.

Officials said the land transfer is crucial because it will allow Navigator to take in about $53 million in grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

“This is such an exceptional moment for our Island seniors,” said David McDonough, the president and CEO of Navigator Homes. “We’re thrilled with the relationship we’ve had with Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to get to this point and are excited about the next steps toward bringing a sustainable model of nursing home care.” 

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital will retain ownership of the rest of the 26-acre Edgartown property and plans to build 48 units of workforce housing in two apartment buildings, one town house, and four duplexes. 

Construction has been ongoing at the Edgartown site. The land has been cleared, a road has been installed and utilities are in place, said George Brennan, a hospital spokesperson. 

The land transfer will allow the entities to start construction of the actual buildings, Mr. Brennan said. 

Navigator is expected to be completed in the summer 2025, followed by the workforce housing.