As more and more cities look to adapt vacant office buildings into homes, a new analysis from Urban Institute says some cities will benefit more than others.
A new analysis from the Urban Institute takes a look at which cities will get the biggest bang for their buck out of office to residential conversions. According to UI Research Associate Jorge González-Hermoso, facing unprecedented commercial vacancy rates and a national shortage of approximately four million homes, local governments across the country are incentivizing adaptive reuse of vacant offices into housing. “One estimate points to 58,000 new housing units currently being built in the US from repurposed office space,” he writes.
But just as some buildings are better suited than others to residential conversion (e.g., inoperable windows and larger floorplans that decrease window access), some cities stand to benefit more from conversion incentive policies than others.
To determine which, González-Hermoso built a conversation disposition index based on various factors illustrating office distress and housing supply need. According to his analysis, these five places are primed for office to residential conversion:
- San Mateo County, California
- Seattle
- Phoenix
- Atlanta
- San Francisco
The article also offers tips on how stakeholders can promote adaptive reuse of office space, including land-use reform, building code updates, streamlined permitting processes, and tax credits or abatements.
FULL STORY: Which Cities Would Benefit Most from Converting Offices into Housing?
How Office Conversions Could Benefit San Francisco
The city could emulate Calgary, New York, and other cities in supporting office conversions as a way to boost floundering downtown economies and provide much-needed additional housing.
Seattle Law Eases Office Conversions
Despite city and state incentives, officials expect the program will result in a modest number of new housing units.
11,000 Housing Units Possible with S.F. Office Conversions, Study Says
A new study by SPUR and the Urban Land Institute’s San Francisco chapter estimates a specific number of apartment units that could be built from vacant office units in the city.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service