Cotamy Company
Cotamy Company

Cotamy Company is a construction and real estate company located on the island of Martha's Vineyard. Cotamy is focused on building high quality structures that serve the island community.
​
The term Cotamy [Ko-Tah-Mi] comes from the old island name for Katama. Cotamy was used for generations and the published name for the area on the 1871 United States Coastal Survey, done by islander and and US Geological Survey cartographer Henry L. Whiting.
​
Through the building process we strive to the principles of
-
Design that pays homage to architectural history of the island while maintaining modern energy, mechanical, and thermal systems
-
Building with natural materials free of plastics and toxic substances
-
Limiting waste as much as possible in the construction process
​
General Contracting
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
We offer general contracting services for projects large and small on island. As your general contractor, we will perform frame to finish carpentry, in-house, while teaming up with partner subcontractors for the mechanical, thermal, and specialty trades. We have experience in building a wide variety of projects be it ground up new construction, renovation, or just general property maintenance.
Services provided:
​
-
New Home Construction
-
Renovation
-
Additions
-
Roof/ Siding/ Window Replacement
-
Decks and Exterior Alterations
-
Timber Framing
-
Historical Restoration
-
General Maintenance
-
Sourcing Island Timber
​
Building Process
Growing up on the island, exploring different areas, fishing and shellfishing, I hold a deep appreciation for the island's innate beauty and natural resources. While pursuing a career in construction and real estate, I have always found the idea of buiding real estate on the island problematic. While working for David Aposhian, owner of Cambridge Design and Development, my mindset on the buiding process fundamentally changed. I learned from David that real estate projects can create both intrinsic beauty, value to the community, and entrepreneurial profit. A builder that can achieve these three things creates inherent value to the community beyond just bottom-line profit for the developer.
By the very nature of living on an island, with finite resources and limited amounts of buildable land, real estate development should hold upmost importance. The Vineyard's natural beauty paired with a community that strives to preserve it is what we should celebrate. Looking at every structure and real estate development in terms of scale and practical usage are fundamental principles but that is hyper-focused here on the island, and Cotamy is fixated on these ideals when conceptualizing building projects.
Cotamy is currently open to new general contracting and real estate projects and interested in teaming up with new design, capital, and subcontractor partners.
Shane Johansson
Shane is the owner of Cotamy Company. He grew up in Katama, and currently lives in West Tisbury.
​
After graduating from MVRHS, Shane went on to the University of Colorado to study History and Economics. After college, he spent 10 years in the Boston area working in construction management, real estate development, and commercial real estate finance. Shane has completed projects ranging from new construction multi-family developments to complex historical restoration projects for institutional clients.
​
After years performing construction management and real estate finance in Boston, Shane worked as a lead carpenter for a frame to finish real estate developer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And in 2018, Shane moved back to the island to start a life and business on island. When he is not building, Shane can be found fishing, shellfishing, and exploring local waters.
​
​
​
​