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The Boston Society for Architecture developed its first regional design guidebook centered on the following question:

How can the Cape & Islands create more affordable housing by reusing the buildings that already exist?

Led by the BSA’s Civic Design Labs, this guidebook is designed for property owners, designers, planners, developers, and community advocates looking for realistic pathways to create housing through adaptive reuse. Grounded in projects from across the region, it will highlight replicable strategies, cost considerations, regulatory pathways, and financing approaches that make reuse a viable and effective housing tool on the Cape & Islands.

Background

In 2024, Massachusetts established the Seasonal Communities Designation to recognize places where housing markets are deeply affected by seasonal employment and tourism. This designation includes Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, where year-round residents face rising costs, limited supply, and regulatory and financial barriers that can make new housing difficult to deliver.

At the same time, many underused buildings, including former schools, commercial properties, and large homes, may offer opportunities for housing creation.

Goals & Objectives

• Surface replicable case studies and creative financial strategies to support housing production and preservation.
• Provide a clear and accessible resource on adaptive reuse relevant to the region’s housing needs.
• Equip local stakeholders with realistic options, cost expectations, and regulatory guidance.

A Model from the Cape & Islands

While grounded in the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, this work has broader implications. Many rural, suburban, and coastal communities across Eastern Massachusetts face similar constraints.

By documenting what’s already working here, the BSA aims to create a model that can be adapted, expanded, and replicated across regions.

Click here to View the Event Slides.