The Low Beach facilities in Siasconset have served Nantucket for decades—from their origins as a World War II-era LORAN station to their later use as seasonal and full-time housing for Nantucket Police Department personnel. Since the Town secured ownership in 2018, the buildings have undergone phased capital improvements to extend their useful life and modernize systems while maintaining seasonal occupancy.

History

World War II: Low Beach LORAN Station (1942–1945)
In 1942, the U.S. Navy identified Nantucket’s Low Beach area in Siasconset as a strategic site for monitoring Atlantic shipping and submarine traffic during World War II. The Navy built a top-secret radio navigation system known as LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation), which used low-frequency radio signals from a network of land-based transmitters to support navigation for ships and aircraft.

The Low Beach station was one of 72 stations worldwide, covering roughly one-third of the globe. It functioned as a hub for training, testing, and operations, with more than 1,500 U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy personnel receiving operational training during the war.

Transition to police housing (1985–2018)
In 1985, the U.S. Coast Guard upgraded and automated the Low Beach LORAN Station, significantly reducing staffing needs. The Coast Guard offered the buildings on the south side of Low Beach Road to the Nantucket Police Department for seasonal and year-round employee housing. The Coast Guard and the Town executed a no-cost, long-term lease, and the Police Department began using the facility in 1985 as Coast Guard personnel exited.

From 1985 to 2018, the Town occupied the buildings under the lease. During that period, the Coast Guard did not take responsibility for maintenance. In addition to routine upkeep, the Town invested approximately $320,000 in capital repairs, including:

• 1999: Renovation of generator/garage space into separate seasonal housing for up to eight (8) female seasonal officers
• 2000: Renovation of the men’s dorm toilet room
• 2000: Replacement of roof membranes for both buildings

Multi-year capital project (2018–present) - Town ownership and facility evaluation (2018–2019)
The Town secured title and full ownership of the property from the Coast Guard in 2018. Shortly thereafter, the Town conducted an extensive evaluation of the facilities. With nearly 70 years of continual use, both buildings required interior and exterior repairs.

SMRT Architects & Engineers was hired to study the facilities and recommend improvements. Based on that study, the Town requested capital funding in 2019. At the 2019 Annual Town Meeting, $950,000 was appropriated for Fiscal Year 2020.

Because the work would make the facility uninhabitable during construction, and seasonal housing remained a priority, the Town developed a phasing plan to keep the facility open during summer seasons.

Renovation phases

Phase I — Men’s dormitory exterior improvements (Completed June 2021)
Work included: Replacement of all windows and doors; Weather-tight sealing of building penetrations; Exterior wall upgrades (furring strips, 2" rigid insulation, exterior plywood); White cedar shingle exterior finish.

• Contractor: JJ Cardosi
• Cost: $988,000
• Completion: June 2021
  Excess cost funded via [Article 10 at the 2020 Annual Town Meeting](https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=158731&repo=r-ec7bdbfe.

Phase I-A — Hazardous materials abatement + related prep (Completed 2022–2023)
The SMRT study identified asbestos and lead paint requiring removal. Additional funding supported abatement, building assessment, and bidding documents (including design work to connect both buildings to municipal sewer). At the 2021 Annual Town Meeting, $500,000 was appropriated for FY2022 for architectural study, engineering, and renovation work.
Work included:

1. Asbestos and lead paint abatement (completed Dec 2022)

• Contractor: R. Mullen
• Cost: $99,500

2. Resinous flooring installation (completed Feb 2023)

• Contractor: R. Mullen
• Cost: $156,400

3. Repair/repainting after abatement (completed Feb 2023)

• Contractor: Drizos Contracting LLC
• Cost: $198,000

In 2023, the Town approved $4,500,000 for additional work. This received a favorable debt exclusion vote at the 2023 Annual Town Election.

Phase II — Women’s dormitory exterior improvements (Completed June 2024)
Work included: Replacement of windows and doors; weather-tight sealing of penetrations; Exterior wall upgrades (furring strips, 2" rigid insulation, exterior plywood); White cedar shingle exterior finish; Modification of exterior walls on small garage building for future conversion to living space.

• Contractor: JJ Cardosi
• Cost: $922,350
• Completion: June 2024

Phase III — Interior improvements (Substantially completed June 2025)
Women’s dormitory improvements included: Conversion of existing garage into an apartment (vestibule, bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, utility closet); Renovation of communal bathroom/shower room: expanded to two ADA-compliant toilets, sinks, and showers; Conversion of one large dorm room into two double-occupancy bedrooms; Electrical system upgrades; Replacement of hot water boiler; Replacement of propane HVAC with energy-efficient heat pump system; New ceiling tile throughout; New LED lighting throughout.

Men’s dormitory improvements included: Conversion of an underutilized recreation room into an apartment (bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, utility room); New mechanical, electrical, plumbing work; New ceiling tile, wall and door construction; Replacement of oil-fired HVAC with energy-efficient heat pump system.

• Contractor: JJ Cardosi
• Cost: $2,274,700
• Substantial completion: June 2025

Phase IIIA — Roof replacement (Final payment October 2025)
Work included: Replacement of 11,775 square feet of flat membrane roofing assemblies on both dormitory buildings. The roofs (more than 25 years old) had developed leaks.

• Contractor: Triumph Roofing
• Cost: $374,250
• Final payment: October 2025

Phase IV — Men’s Dormitory Interior Improvements
Work included: Renovation of the communal bathroom and shower facilities to meet current code requirements, replacement of aging plumbing, electrical, and fire alarm systems, renovation of the kitchen and dining area, replacement of outdated HVAC equipment with energy-efficient heat pump systems and new ceilings, LED lighting, and upgraded security systems including cameras and card-access controls.

Status (updated 2/2026): Phase IV of this multi-year improvement project will be presented to Town Meeting voters as Article 14 at the 2026 Annual Town Meeting. The article seeks authorization for a $5.4 million funding request. The tax rate impact of an affirmative vote at the Annual Town Meeting and the Annual Town Election will mean the annual tax bill for a year-round property valued at $1,878,950 and which qualifies for the residential exemption will increase by approximately $8.03 annually for 25 years.