Housing and Development

A Look at the Vineyard in the 21st Century

How’s this for a long view of the Vineyard, let’s say some time after the year 2000 when this fragile Island enters the 21st century.
  • A summer population of as much as 260,000.
  • More than 40,000 buildings situated on only 64,000 acres of Vineyard land.
  • Miles upon miles of asphalt roads criss-crossing back and forth across the length and breadth of the Island.
  • Housing construction riveted to rigid, evenly spaced grid plans, like another Levittown. Forget cluster development with open spaces and green buffer zones.

Definite Facts on Housing Units, Their Condition, Equipment

The 1960 census of housing of the U.S. Department of Commerce counted 5,340 housing units in Dukes County. Of these:
 
  • 4,019 were in sound condition with all plumbing
  • 2,032 were occupied
  • 1,579 were occupied by owners
  • $10,100 was the median value of owner-occupied places
  • 456 were occupied by renters
  • $75 was the median gross rent of rented places
  • 4,499 had hot and cold running water
  • 5,019 had flush toilet, 4,827 bathtub or shower
  • 3,966 had basements
  • 4 were trailer homes

Zoning Actually Protects Private Property Rights

Most city dwellers take zoning as a matter of course. They know that without such protection there would be no strictly residential areas, no unspoiled park and recreation centers in their metropolis, no concentrated business districts; that the whole would be a confusion of purposes pleasing neither business nor inhabitant; that property would become devaluated, new industry discouraged, and eventually the people themselves would move to new locations in more orderly surroundings.
 

Dukes County Has 3,799 “Housing Units” for Its 5,699 Inhabitants

Dukes County boasts a total of 3,799 “housing units,” for its 5,669 inhabitants, according to revised figures issued by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for 1940. At the time the tally was made 1,699 of the houses were occupied, 524 were vacant and for sale or for rent, and 1,576 were vacant for other reasons.

More Than Third of Island Population Is on Relief

A total of 36.8 per cent of the population of Dukes County, calculated on the 1930 census, is being supported by public funds either from the ERA, public welfare or soldiers’ relief, according to figures compiled by the Hyannis Regional ERA office for February.
 
For Dukes County, the accompanying table shows, the total relief load is 479 cases, supporting 1,820 persons. The number of persons is the total supported by men or women working on the ERA, public welfare, soldiers’ aid, or receiving direct aid as unemployable.
 

Editorial: Two Sides of a Question

Not long ago we heard a valued summer resident of an Island town discourse in a rather surprising way. She said:
 
“Some of us have formed a knockers’ club this year. If anyone asks us about the Vineyard, we say, ‘We-e-ell, the mosquitoes were pretty bad this season,’ or something of that sort designed to be discouraging. You see, it’s a question whether the Island isn’t becoming a little too popular, whether there haven’t been too many people around this year.”
 

Cottage City

The past week has been an eventful one in the history of Cottage City and in her prospects for the future. The decision in the question of the ownership of the parks in favor of the town will mark a new era in its history. The removal of this cloud, which has so long gung like a pall over its prosperity, will give a new impetus to improving property and the purchase of land and building of new cottages. The people’s rights have been protected by the courts, and it is many years since so healthy a sentiment has prevailed here in business circles.
 

Washqua Farm: The Region of Perfect Content

One of the most delightfully situated Islands on the Atlantic coast is the old Indian home of the Chappaquiddic Tribe, now almost extinct, but sparsely settled by parties who make life busy in the various callings associated with agriculture and fishing interests. This island is about three miles wide by five in length. In beauty of landscape and water view, with its general diversity of soil and rolling aspect of every hand, it has been appropriately called “a gem,” in a setting at once beautiful and enchanting.

“Tashmoo”: The New Summer Resort at West Cop, Martha’s Vineyard

This new summer resort located at West Chop is very beautifully situated on the shores of Vineyard Haven harbor and Vineyard sound, but a few minutes ride from the village of Vineyard Haven. The gentlemen who have undertaken this new enterprise are men of ample means and business ability; they are spending a large amount of money for the development of the property question. Among the improvements already made might be mentioned the building of a large and substantial wharf into the waters of Vineyard Sound.

A New Summer Resort

Capt. William Lewis has sold to a syndicate of Boston gentlemen all the land, wharf property, &c., of the West Point Land Co., on West Chop, Martha’s Vineyard. This land was purchased by Capt. Lewis some 12 or 15 years ago and improvements made to the extent of several thousand dollars. Avenues were laid out, a wharf was built and the land was plotted for cottage lots, but the boom at Cottage City at that time diverted attention from this fine locality. The purchasers are heavy men and include William Minot, Stephen Weld and Francis Peabody.
 

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