The Hard Math Behind Office-to-Residential Conversions

With downtown office vacancies hovering near 20 percent in major US cities, the idea of converting empty office towers into apartments has never seemed more logical. But the reality is far messier. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the per-square-foot costs that kill most conversion deals—from floor plates that are too deep for natural light to plumbing risers that were never designed for individual units. They examine why cities like Calgary and Cleveland have succeeded where San Francisco and New York have stalled, and what building owners are doing to offload obsolete properties. Along the way, they discuss the role of federal tax credits, zoning waivers, and the quiet rise of partial adaptive reuse as a compromise. If you've ever wondered why that vacant office building on the corner isn't being turned into lofts, this episode gives you the cold, hard numbers. #OfficeToResidential #ConversionCosts #CommercialRealEstate #AdaptiveReuse #UrbanDevelopment #VacancyRates #SanFrancisco #Calgary #Zoning #TaxIncentives #RealEstateMath #BuildingDesign #PlumbingRisers #FloorPlates #PensionFunds #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo