News
New home construction costs on the Island could increase more than 10 per cent as a result of new state building codes requiring one and two-story buildings to withstand winds of 110 miles per hour beginning Jan. 1.
For some prospective home owners and builders, the changes have already blown away their plans.
Tisbury building inspector Kenneth Barwick said he already has heard from home builders on a budget.
About 130 acres of land on the Vineyard was permanently protected from development under new conservation restrictions in 2007, according to state government figures.
The relatively disappointing result was in spite of generous tax incentives — which expired at year’s end — and in sharp contrast to figures for the state as a whole.
Statewide, 266 new conservation restrictions, covering a total area of 11,200 acres were signed off by the secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles.
In a clear sign of a cooling real estate market here, revenues at the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank fell in 2007 for the second straight calendar year. The total number of real estate transactions also was down last year, for the third year in a row.
The land bank collected $10.9 million in revenues in 2007, compared with $11.6 million in 2006, a drop of seven per cent.
And the land bank recorded 1,403 real estate transactions in 2007, a drop of five per cent from the previous year, when 1,474 transactions were recorded.
Eli Arrives
Emma Kiley and Justin Bryant of West Tisbury announce the birth of a son, Eli Copper Bryant, born on Dec. 22 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Eli weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces at birth.
Hello, Caleb
Lauriete Miller and Ubaldo C. Miller of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Caleb Nunes Miller, born on Dec. 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Caleb weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces at birth.
Hello, Ethan
Esther and Alan Hartmann of West Tisbury announce the birth of a son, Ethan Riley Hartmann, born on Dec. 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Ethan weighed 6.7 pounds at birth.