Is there an opportunity to convert office towers into residential towers?
In many cities around the world, there is a shortage of affordable housing, leading to high rents and homelessness. One solution to this problem is to convert office towers into residential towers. This approach can provide an opportunity for developers, investors, and local communities to work together to create new homes for people who need them. However, there are also risks involved in these projects that need to be considered.
Benefits of converting office towers into residential towers
One of the main benefits of converting office towers into residential towers is that it can help to increase the supply of affordable housing in cities. In many urban areas, there is a shortage of affordable housing, and developers often struggle to find space to build new homes. By converting office towers into residential towers, developers can take advantage of existing structures and repurpose them to meet the needs of residents.
Another benefit of these projects is that they can help to revitalize urban areas. Many office towers are located in city centres, where there is often a high demand for housing. By converting these buildings into residential towers, developers can bring new residents into these areas, creating new markets for local businesses and services.
Finally, converting office towers into residential towers can be a sustainable approach to housing development. Rather than demolishing old buildings and constructing new ones, developers can reuse existing structures, reducing the amount of waste generated by the construction process. This can also help to reduce the carbon footprint of new housing developments.
Risks of converting office towers into residential towers
While there are many benefits to converting office towers into residential towers, there are also risks involved in these projects. One of the main risks is that the cost of converting the buildings may be too high to make the project financially viable. Converting office buildings into residential units can require significant renovations, including new plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems, which can be expensive.
Another risk is that the buildings may not be suitable for residential use. Office buildings are designed for a different purpose than residential buildings, and they may not have the necessary amenities or infrastructure to support residential use. For example, there may be limited access to natural light or outdoor spaces, which can impact the health and wellbeing of residents.
Moving forward
Converting office towers into residential towers can provide an opportunity to increase the supply of housing in urban areas and revitalize city centres. However, these projects also come with risks, including the cost of renovations, suitability of the buildings for residential use, and the potential for gentrification and displacement. Developers, investors, and local communities need to work together to ensure that these risks are managed and that affordable housing is prioritized in these projects.
Canadian cities incentivizing office tower conversion
Calgary, AB – Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program
Toronto, ON – ModernTO
🗞️ Building Recycling in the News
BBC – The cities built to be reusable (Shared in Discord via $Cameron)
Calgary.com – 10 US and Canadian cities converting office space into housing
Oregon Public Broadcasting – Portland City Council approves incentives to help convert office buildings into apartments
The Baltimore Sun – Downtown Baltimore has empty office buildings. How turning them into housing will — and won’t — work
Western Investor – Calgary will pay owners to demolish vacant downtown office towers
Ottawa Citizen – Deachman: Why Ottawa should look to Calgary when converting office space to housing
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