Commercial Conversions

Vacant mall with vast empty parking lot with cracked asphalt and Southwestern mountains in background.

From Department Store to Apartments

A former Sears store has a new life as a housing complex.

November 5, 2023 - Fast Company

Victorian two-story buildings with retail shops in downtown Nashvile, Tennessee

How Adaptive Retailers Contribute to Positive Urbanization

Retailers must respond to changes to stay successful, and urbanization is one of the major factors influencing changing circumstances. Retail representatives that react with care and thoughtfulness contribute to positive urbanization.

September 29, 2022 - Devin Partida

Facade of Cecil Hotel, Los Angeles

How Adaptive Reuse Can Ease the Housing Crisis

An analysis of Los Angeles properties found that the city could make a significant impact on its housing shortage by converting commercial buildings to housing.

April 7, 2022 - LAist

View of the National Biscuit Company Building, 1850 Industrial Street, Los Angeles from the corner of Mateo Street. It has been renovated into lofts, with a restaurant on the ground floor.

Paper Series Sheds Light On Adaptive Reuse

A series of reports from Berkeley's Terner Center assess the potential of commercial-to-residential conversions to help ease the housing crisis.

November 23, 2021 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Kicking Commercial-to-Residential Conversions Into High Gear

A plan included in New York Gov. Andre Cuomo's draft 2022 budget will make it easier to do adaptive reuse for new housing in New York City.

January 22, 2021 - The Real Deal

Urban Setting

Tax Abatements Could Spur Adaptive Reuse in Washington, D.C.

Faced with commercial vacancies around 11 percent and the prospect of new office supply coming online soon, D.C. stakeholders are pushing for a bill that would provide incentives for conversions of office buildings into residential units.

January 18, 2018 - The New York Times

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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.