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A History of Success
Bruce H. Poor is always ahead of the curve, with ideas that are often perceived as radical, and later realized to be visionary.
His innovative residential ventures on Nantucket were motivated by his belief in both land conservation and economic viability. They yielded for the buyer returns that were fivefold the original purchase price and outpaced the Nantucket realty market.
His multiple successes included the conversion of 315 acres of Nantucket into conservation land through his own donations and a pioneering development model that clusters developments around land, to permanently protect open space, village character and environmental resources. Poor’s breakthrough approach was revolutionary at the time and initially met with resistance. The Nantucket community now embraces the model, and based in part on their success, communities across the country are now updating their comprehensive land-use plans to incorporate residential cluster development, and realize that financial success and the preservation of local character can go hand in hand.
A deep and abiding respect for historic authenticity and a reverence for details have shaped his aesthetic, and created some of Nantucket’s most notable residential offerings.
Woodbury Lane, Nantucket
When the whaling industry disappeared from Nantucket after the Revolutionary War, the whalers sought to establish a new center on New York’s Hudson River. The fishermen dismantled their Nantucket houses piece by piece, and reconstructed them in their new Hudson Bay community. Poor tracked down some of these original historic homes in upstate New York, and used their architecture as the basis for the homes of Woodbury Lane. It location, just outside of town “proper,” was initially perceived as an undesirable address. However, because of Poor’s meticulous care in reproducing the appeal of town, Woodbury Lane became the address of choice, and over the years, the value of homes at Woodbury Lane has vastly outpaced the market. Today, homes here command prices in excess of $3,000,000. Hedge Row, Siasconset
The quaint village of Siasconset was famous as an actor’s colony at the turn of the century, and its historic cottages with ubiquitous rambling roses and privet hedges became the inspiration for Hedge Row. Beautiful homes, with magnificent sculptured, manicures hedges and greenery create a dramatic entry statement. Tetawkemo, Nantucket
At Tetawkemo, Poor created a spectacular entry to this residential cluster community. Dual roads follow the natural elevations of the land, so that upon one’s arrival, the undulating landscape is revealed. The site plan includes 80% of the land reserved as open conservation land, with homes sited so that owners had private space that would never be developed.