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sarcasticlhath t1_iu08riw wrote

Can someone informed share what specifically makes commercial-residential conversions so difficult? Are the building standards different to the point of safety concerns or is it mostly about noise concerns? Traffic/parking?

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Skizzy_Mars t1_iu0aryy wrote

Building standards and designs are very different. Commercial buildings are usually built with central bathrooms, so plumbing needs significant changes. Then you have to consider how the floor space is laid out relative to windows. Every apartment needs windows to the outside, so you end up with long, shoe box style apartment layouts that aren't very desirable. And then you have to figure out how to transition from a floor-by-floor HVAC system to one where every apartment controls their own.

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raabbasi t1_iu32w8t wrote

Still cheaper than building new buildings.

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SlamwellBTP t1_iu09q2o wrote

It's the building standards mainly. Things like every room having a window don't work well with office layouts.

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ShriekingMuppet t1_iu0ay4a wrote

Apparently HVAC and plumbing are a nightmare to redesign, changing a large building from office to residential is a-lot of engineering.

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northeast0 t1_iu0tbxc wrote

The cost of conversion usually ends up being more expensive than a teardown and rebuild primarily due to fire code issues. Every bedroom needs 2 forms of egress/ingress so all windows would conceivably need to be converted into windows that open outward. Utilities need to be separately metered and controlled. Electrical outlets need to be reconfigured. Kitchens and bathrooms need to be built in every unit. Soundproof walls need to be put in on every floor. Fire suppression systems need to be reconfigured so that it can activate in every unit. Laundry facilities need to be made available or installed in each unit. The list goes on and on

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FitzwilliamTDarcy t1_iu16nq8 wrote

Yup. All this, plus distance from core (elevator/stair) to edge-walls in office is usually far greater than in residential.

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Maxpowr9 t1_iu1bjt6 wrote

Even for my own home, to do a gut job and an addition is nearly the cost of a teardown and building something new. Really the only reason to do the former is if temporarily relocating isn't an option.

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Snoo_97625 t1_iu0egmv wrote

Lack of political will. The office owners aren't interested, it's significantly more costly than building a 4 story apartment building out in the burbs, it generates less income, it's a years long process, dealing with the city is never fun. Basically developers just aren't interested yet

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unclepeteusa t1_iu21oif wrote

I’ve sold many billion worth of office buildings in Boston and some combo of all of the answers are correct but I think this one is the most accurate, the people who own the “convertible” office buildings will just wait it out and never convert to residential.

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huron9000 t1_iu12dvf wrote

Why would someone downvote this?

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jojenns t1_iu14txy wrote

Because its mostly inaccurate I think

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huron9000 t1_iu19wf2 wrote

Which part? All of it?

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jojenns t1_iu1amoh wrote

No not all. Starts with a bad point lack of political will. The article itself is about Boston’s elected leader pushing for it. They are right about cost but are off track on why. It just was articulated better a half dozen times right above it

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huron9000 t1_iu5jfwd wrote

I read it as: These conversions are extensive, difficult, a pain in the ass, and as yet mostly unproven in the market. Therefore developers will not undertake them without govt subsidies or at least regulation streamlining. That last part is where the political will comes in.

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