As technology changes the way people work and more cities have a growing need to provide affordable housing, some cities are converting older office buildings into residential properties. These local governments are offering tax abatement incentives or implementing city policies allowing the conversion to occur with fewer roadblocks.
In Texas, the historic Blue Flame Building in El Paso is being renovated into apartments, and former 1920s office building The Maverick in San Antonio now has studios, one- and two-bedroom units, and 14,000 square feet of retail space.
In Detroit, an office building was redeveloped into apartments, a hotel, and retail. An office building in Falls Church, Virginia, was converted into an elementary school.
These conversions can mean income for the building owner, green benefits by repurposing a usable building, and making a once-vacant structure into a vibrant
space fostering community.