Is Nantucket headed towards being an exclusive playground for the rich?? My view…
By Brian-Logan Reid, Broker
In the time that I’ve lived on Nantucket, I’ve witnessed Nantucket become ever more a playground for the rich (or what is becoming more so the case, the VERY rich). After some conversations with friends and colleagues, I began thinking about all the ways that Nantucket may just be becoming a secluded playground for the affluent:
- The Nantucket Yacht Club - Members only - you could imagine what it’s like trying to get into this club (I’ve heard the wait list is over 30 years…)
- The Great Harbor Yacht Club - Members only (still under construction) - 300 members, membership cost is $300,000…
- The Sankaty Head Golf Club - Members only - I’ve heard the membership cost is only $30,000 (and maybe I’m missing a 0), but the wait list is extremely “extensive”…
- The Nantucket Golf Club - Members only - Membership cost is $450,000 and a five year wait list…
- The Westmoor Club - Members only - This most recent tennis club does not have a wait list, but the membership cost is $250,000 (last I heard)…
- The Sconset Casino - Sconset residents and renters only - a tennis club located in Sconset; nominal membership cost…
- The Nobadeer Swim and Tennis Club - Members only - a facility located in Mid-Island with tennis courts, full gym and spa - membership cost is $25,000 (at least that’s what it was 2 years ago)…
- The Point Breeze Hotel is undergoing an enormous renovation that will convert it into a luxury hotel with full spa and five star restaurant; memberships will probably be available…
- Time and Place Homes owner Mitch Wiley recently purchased several condo units and outbuildings on Nantucket Harbor. I believe he will be creating a truly unique collection of high-end condos/houses/cottages located right in Town and right on the harbor…
Wow! I didn’t realize how exhaustive the list really is! Well the good news…I think…is that because of a lack of large contiguous property left to build on Nantucket, no more golf courses will be built! (hmm…on second thought, don’t hold me on that).
There definitely is some cache in saying “I’ve got a house on Nantucket”…maybe it has to do with this exclusive mentality…
Just some of my thoughts…