The Residences at Lawrence Hill includes a mix of townhouses, flats and a 3-story building being developed by nonprofit Preservation of Affordable Housing in Wellfleet. Image courtesy of Studio G Architects
Cape Cod is in the midst of a housing crisis. Officially declared by the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, this emergency is not just a headline, it’s a daily reality for many families struggling to live and work in the communities they call home. Studio G Architects is working closely with local partners to design solutions that do more than build housing, they help build community.
In Wellfleet, for example, according to the town’s 2023 Housing Production Plan, the median sales price for a single-family home was $940,000. That’s well beyond the reach of most first-time homebuyers. Two projects, both in different stages of development, offer hope and direction for how we can address this crisis thoughtfully and equitably.
The Residences at Lawrence Hill is a new affordable neighborhood designed in partnership with the development team of Preservation of Affordable Housing and the Community Development Partnership. Located across from Wellfleet Elementary School and wrapping around a town ball field, Lawrence Hill is envisioned as more than housing; it is a neighborhood where families and people of all ages can thrive. Unusual in Wellfleet, it includes sidewalks so children can safely walk to the nearby school.
Housing alone isn’t sufficient; it must be integrated into the social and civic fabric of a town. Wellfleet Elementary, which has capacity for 200 students, currently enrolls just 78. Housing projects like Lawrence Hill can help stabilize enrollment and help vital local institutions like schools, services and businesses thrive.
Also located in Wellfleet, Maurice’s Campground presents a different but equally vital opportunity. Studio G Architects led a master planning process for the 21-acre site, collaborating with community planner JM Goldson, civil and landscape engineers from Langan, and development consultant Boston Communities. Together, this group has engaged residents, business owners, local officials and other stakeholders to ensure the future development reflects the needs, values and character of Wellfleet.
Meeting Demand for Short-Term Housing
One recurring theme has been that young people who grew up in town can’t afford to stay. That affects the local economy in several ways: businesses struggle to find workers, and services for seniors and families are harder to maintain, and seniors have no opportunity to downsize. Additionally, seasonal workers, essential to the Cape’s tourism economy, face major challenges finding affordable short-term housing. According to a 2022 Housing Assistance Corporation report, the Cape needs more than 1,000 units of seasonal and workforce housing to meet demand.
Gail Sullivan
The resulting plan envisions a vibrant, mixed-income, year-round neighborhood with affordable rental and homeownership dwellings, as well as attainable housing for municipal and other workers. It will also replace housing for seasonal workers who currently live on site in trailers.
Beyond housing, the master plan emphasizes sustainability and ecological preservation. The site’s natural features, including wetlands and wooded areas, will be respected and incorporated into the design to ensure long-term environmental resilience.
These projects, while distinct in scale and timeline, share a central principle: housing is about more than shelter. It’s about delivering community: a sense of place and belonging, and access to schools, jobs, transportation and nature. As we design for the Cape, we’re also contributing to a broader conversation: what does it really mean to create a livable, equitable community?
Cape Cod’s housing shortage is severe, but not unsolvable. With thoughtful design, inclusive planning, and sustained collaboration, we can create neighborhoods that reflect the values of the people who live there both now and for generations to come.
Gail Sullivan is managing principal of Studio G Architects.
