What It Really Takes to Convert an Office Building to Apartments | Odd Lots

Big cities like New York have two real estate problems. Housing is scarce and office buildings are under-utilized. So there would seem to be an obvious solution: turn the office buildings into housing. Indeed, there's been a lot of talk lately about "office-to-residential" conversions given the current, post-pandemic state of affairs. But it's not that simple, for at least three big reasons. Zoning, financing and the often-complex necessities of construction all need to be addressed. On this episode of Odd Lots, we speak with Joey Chilelli, a managing director at the Vanbarton Group, a firm that's been involved with these projects for a decade, and discuss the challenges of actually pulling off a conversion.
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[@danielbomgaars1008]

Really interesting. Great podcast

[@jsalsman]

I'm told plumbing is harder than everything else combined, assuming windows and fire exits can even be accommodated in the floorplan.

[@GravityAnalyticaLLC]

Yep. It basically makes it cheaper to destroy and rebuild in almost all cases.

[@anthonyyoung6489]

5:01 this doesn’t make sense. If the ceiling height is to low then make it a 2 story unit reduce the unit number by 50%. In San Francisco we got exposed pipes hanging all over the place. Why would New York be different?

[@smackattack4284]

Yet hit the nail on the head I believe. Codes.

[@jctai100]

It's a structural issue and a financial one. You can't just delete floors without any engineering if even possible - more $$$ and you've essentially lost square footage - more $$$

[@smackattack4284]

@@jctai100 Definitely not the silver bullet needed

[@TheYah00netstar]

*At the height of my ignorance about architectural engineering...I thought the opening of holes in the center of the building...might have had the purpose of making the floors a bit lighter(clarity/weight) ...more ventilated due to asbestos...infiltrations...and for aesthetic reason...besides easier mobility for the construction equipment...*

[@manonamission2000]

How bout a story on the MSG Sphere how does pickleball and tag make the rounds on Bloomberg, but not the Sphere?!?

[@Lalngambani]

World should look after in Manipur situation. Everyday people are dying. Manipur has only population of 3.7 Millions. India government fail to control it. India is just higher number of Military.

[@RUHappyATM]

But are they AFFORDABLE? No point converting them into multi-million dollars apartments that nobody can afford.