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How Cities Are Turning Empty Offices Into Housing—and What It Really Takes to Make It Work

March 31, 2025

Monday, March 31, 2025

On Tap Today

  • Converts and consequences: A new Brookings report explores how six cities are navigating the challenges of policy, design, and equity to turn empty offices into homes.

  • Decoding Real Estate podcast: PropTech investor Zach Aarons discusses industry challenges and opportunities, from office struggles to the promise of AI and AR.

Multifamily

Vacant office buildings loom large over America’s downtowns—monuments to a pre-pandemic economy that no longer fits the way we live and work. At the same time, a crushing housing shortage continues to push rents higher and affordability lower. What if one problem could help solve the other? A new Brookings report explores how converting empty offices into housing could reshape urban cores across the country—and what it will take to get there.

The study dives deep into six very different cities, from sprawling Houston to compact Winston-Salem, revealing the local quirks that make or break conversion efforts. In some places, flexible zoning is an asset. In others, outdated regulations and financing hurdles block progress. A few cities are already seeing progress, while others struggle to align policy with market demand. What emerges is a surprising mix of early wins, cautionary tales, and a call to rethink how cities plan for the future.

But this isn’t just about construction logistics or real estate economics. At the heart of the report is a bigger question: how can cities use this moment to build not just more housing, but better, more inclusive communities? The report’s findings—and the buildings behind them—offer a preview of what the next era of urban life might look like.

Overheard

Top Headlines

Decoding Real Estate Podcast

Surviving the PropTech Winter with Zach Aarons of MetaProp

PropTech investor Zach Aarons joins Decoding Real Estate to discuss the industry’s challenges, from office market struggles to high interest rates. Despite setbacks, he sees opportunities in AI and AR for real estate. Hear his insights on where PropTech is headed next.

LISTEN: https://propmodo.com/podcast/surviving-the-proptech-winter-with-zach-aarons-of-metaprop/

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