Office-to-residential conversion costs can be 30% lower than new construction: Gensler

However, only 25% of the office buildings the firm assessed for adaptive reuse were deemed suitable for conversion, according to the analysis. 

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 21, 2023

75% of companies plan to cut office space in 2024

Of more than 500 business owners and facilities managers surveyed, 82% are concerned about their ability to retain current office space, according to a report from workspace platform provider Robin.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 10, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

LA hotels won’t be required to house homeless people as city rethinks ballot measure

The Los Angeles City Council proposed a revised version after striking a deal with the union of hospitality workers sponsoring the measure.

By Noelle Mateer • Nov. 3, 2023

‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ law aims to help battle California’s housing crisis

The recently signed bill allows religious groups and nonprofit colleges to build affordable housing on their land without strict adherence to zoning standards. 

By Ellia Thompson • Oct. 31, 2023

White House advances office-to-residential conversions with new resources

The guidance, financing and technical assistance aim to address a 30-year high in office vacancies and ease the affordable housing crisis.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 30, 2023

How builders can help lead the way on affordable housing for LGBTQ+ elders

SAGE’s National LGBTQ+ Elder Housing Initiative gives builders and developers access to the support they need to build better homes for a community that is disproportionately impacted by housing discrimination and insecurity.  

Oct. 30, 2023

8 cities to install public art projects with Bloomberg Philanthropies grants

The winners include Houston, which aims to “disrupt perceptions of homelessness,” and Phoenix, which will commission artists to create shading and cooling installations.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 20, 2023

DC lost its spot as a top city for office-to-residential conversions. It wants it back.

While the pace of adaptive reuse projects has slowed, the city is offering incentives to bring more housing to the urban core.

By Mary Salmonsen • Oct. 18, 2023

Colleges can take steps to address the affordable housing crisis

From contributing underutilized land to tapping government support, institutions can help alleviate the problem — and get a return on their investment. 

By Eric Maribojoc • Oct. 17, 2023

NYC project looks to support climate law with building inspection tech

The AI-powered technology under development uses robots and drone scans to detect structural flaws that reduce energy efficiency.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 16, 2023

Notable 2024 conferences for smart city leaders

Newly added events focus on traffic safety, technology and green infrastructure.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Updated Aug. 2, 2024

Will LA hotels be required to house homeless people alongside their guests?

The Responsible Hotels Ordinance, if enacted, would require every hotel in Los Angeles to report its vacancies to the municipal government.

By Noelle Mateer • Oct. 4, 2023

US Census reports shift in top reasons for moving

Family-related moves have become more common, bouncing back from a COVID-era drop.

By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 29, 2023

Unused parking adds over $2M to typical multifamily projects: study

New Jersey should adopt new parking ratio standards that better align with usage, a Rutgers University white paper proposes.

By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 27, 2023

Boston launches pilot to help small housing owners go electric

Two- to four-unit buildings are the city’s most common building type. Boston hopes the new grant program will yield lessons on scaling up building decarbonization.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 22, 2023

Airbnb’s marketing touts short-term rental benefits as local restrictions tighten

Restrictions such as New York’s Local Law 18 may have a greater impact on the city’s residents and tourism economy than on the company.

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 20, 2023

To improve multifamily housing energy efficiency and resiliency, HUD offers $4.8B for retrofits

The first round of the $4.8 billion GRRP covers upgrades for 28 rent-assisted properties.

By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 18, 2023

Reforms could add 300K housing units to New York City over 10 years: report

With the city’s housing costs surging to unprecedented levels, RAND Corp. researchers examined the most promising policy reforms.

By Danielle McLean • Sept. 11, 2023

Apartment owners don’t feel impacts from Hollywood writers’ strike — yet

Despite few effects so far, a prolonged work stoppage could exacerbate occupancy issues in Los Angeles.

By Leslie Shaver • Aug. 21, 2023

Boston grants aim to lower carbon footprint of affordable housing

Building owners can get up to $10,000 each for comprehensive energy assessments.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 16, 2023

As rents continue to rise, legislators eye new regulations

Ongoing affordability challenges have led lawmakers to consider rent control and fee notifications, data provider Yardi said in its most recent report.

By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 15, 2023

Tiny houses for the homeless: What 2 nonprofits have learned to date

Nonprofit leaders from Syracuse, New York, and Kansas City, Missouri, discuss the benefits and challenges of using tiny houses to provide shelter for the unhoused.

By Amanda Loudin • Aug. 15, 2023

Millions in back rent due in Los Angeles

This collective debt has raised concerns about a potential wave of evictions, despite the city’s efforts to keep residents housed while also supporting landlords.

By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 14, 2023

How ‘snob zoning’ blocks opportunity

Exclusionary zoning policies’ problems — and possible solutions – are on the mind of Richard Kahlenberg, author of the new book “Excluded.”

By Joan Mooney • Aug. 10, 2023

Office-to-residential, other adaptive reuse construction reaches record high

Los Angeles has the largest development pipeline in the country, followed by New York City and Chicago.

By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 9, 2023