Greg King, CEcD’s Post

Fascinating insight on how events can drive economic vitality in urban downtowns by creating a transition from social spaces to offices. The "entertainment factor"—helping to support growth of local businesses. #UrbanDevelopment #EconomicGrowth #CommunityBuilding

🏙️ Downtowns across the nation are witnessing a remarkable transformation as historic, underutilized buildings are being repurposed into residential spaces. Cincinnati stands out with over 1,500 office-to-apartment units in its conversion pipeline, ranking seventh in the nation, as reported by Fast Company. Developers in Cincinnati are exploring diverse buildings, from former jails to warehouses, to meet housing demands. The city also ranks second in office space conversion, with 2.4 million square feet slated for or currently undergoing transformation into residential spaces across 12 projects. With a plethora of vacant office spaces, Louisville holds tremendous potential to kickstart its own urban revitalization efforts.

Interesting article.

Everyone's tossing around that 15% conversion potential stat, but it's a red herring. The real story? It's in the nitty-gritty that folks like Jaime L. are grappling with. "We are basically clearing the floors," Lee says. It's not just slapping some paint on walls; it's ripping out guts and rebuilding from the inside out. #NewYork and #LA are making noise about #zoning changes, but #Indianapolis is quietly showing them up. John Watson turned a $1 stadium into $28 million worth of housing, with the city bridging a $5 million gap. Here's what everyone's missing: It's not about how many offices we can convert, but how creatively cities can partner with developers. Watson's deal isn't just a one-off; it's a blueprint for urban alchemy. The real question isn't "Can we convert this office?" It's "How can we make the numbers work?" Cities fixating on #zoning are missing the point. The game-changer will be the #municipality that figures out how to systematically close funding gaps like Indianapolis did. In this new urban equation, the most valuable skill isn't design or construction—it's #financial creativity. . https://lnkd.in/gKRkfyJD

Adaptability is a willingness to pivot and move in the direction that is the most productive. That's one strength that has always made the Pacific Northwest a hotspot for innovative people and forward-thinking companies. And now, Seattle is continuing to adapt to post-pandemic conditions, reshaping itself even better for the change. The Seattle City Council is incentivizing the conversion of vacant office space to residential space, adding one more win to addressing the affordable housing crisis. As Seattle continues to adapt and grow, it remains a beacon of innovation and progress in the Pacific Northwest. Is this the dynamic city you get to call home? https://lnkd.in/gYifksBW

It’s exciting to see Rochester aiming to be the first city in New York to secure a second round of funding through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. This program has the potential to bring transformative change, revitalizing key areas like Main and State streets. As someone deeply involved in construction and revitalization projects, I’m looking forward to seeing how this initiative will shape the city’s future and support both historic preservation and new developments. The efforts to tackle vacancy rates and bring in new businesses are a step in the right direction for revitalizing downtown. #RochesterRevitalization #DowntownDevelopment #HistoricPreservation #UrbanRenewal #ConstructionInnovation #NewYorkRevitalization #CommunityGrowth #EconomicDevelopment #RevitalizeDowntown #CityTransformation #BusinessGrowth #ConstructionLeadership #DowntownRochester #HistoricRestoration #BuildingTheFutur

Mayor Johnson is clearing 4 office-to-residential building conversions along LaSalle Street to move forward with official city review, bringing clarity to a key initiative to revitalize the Central Loop. These conversions would dramatically reshape Chicago's historic banking corridor, taking a 1.3 million square-foot bite out of LaSalle Street's 5 million sf of vacant office space. The projects at 208 S. LaSalle, 30 N. LaSalle, 111 W. Monroe, and 79 W. Monroe, in development since 2022, will collectively add nearly 1,100 residential units with 30% designated affordable for households earning roughly $53,000 a year. Presently there is almost no affordable housing in the Loop. Another positive is that both of the Monroe buildings will receive historic landmark protection. The projects are seeking a combined $150 million in public subsidy. And they will require City Council approval before becoming reality. The LaSalle Street Reimagined initiative also focuses on creating a lively and attractive streetscape befitting a mixed-use neighborhood while shoring up shops, restaurants, and cultural draws. At this morning's press conference, developer Quintin E. Primo III of Capri Investment Group noted that Google's reinvestment in the Thompson Center is the perfect catalyst to build on, and that great public policy like LaSalle Street Reimagined is also important. And Planning Commissioner Ciere Boatright confirmed that 135 S. LaSalle (the former Bank of America building) is still being considered as another possible conversion, which would bring another 430 units into the mix. This is precisely the type of policy approach harnessing innovative design and development that we'll be exploring in our expansive new exhibit, LOOP as LAB: Reshaping Downtowns, opening April 27. Chicago Department of Planning and Development Chicago Loop Alliance The Prime Group, Inc Golub & Company Campari Group #TheEmergingDowntown #Renew #AdaptiveReuse #LoopAsLab #LaSalleStreetReimagined 📸 : Terence Faircloth

Earlier this fall, Urban Land Institute shared insights from working with municipalities nationwide to re-envision downtowns. Traditional 'downtown' business districts are transitioning into vibrant social and cultural spaces. Now more than ever, placemaking—including art, events, and design in public and ‘in-between’ spaces—is essential. As cities consider new visual identities and community-centered real estate planning, we’re excited to be part of this change. https://lnkd.in/ee5xx4i4

Happy Cities Are Redeveloping into Places for People At this year’s QuadState APA Conference in Fayetteville, Arkansas, I had the opportunity to engage with thought leaders and urban planners from across the region. Dr. Tristan Cleveland, an urban planner and research specialist for Happy Cities, led an insightful discussion on reshaping urban spaces to prioritize people over cars, promoting healthier, more sustainable, and more inclusive communities. A key takeaway from the session was that making car-dependent places more people-centered in design doesn’t always work. In fact, most of the time, it doesn’t increase land values or active transportation use, and it can reduce the financial outcomes of affordable housing investments. Even congestion reduction strategies may lower the GDP of the area. So, where should you focus your people-centered development efforts? The answer lies in where market trends are shifting. Retail purchasing patterns have changed, meaning fewer people shop at malls, and office space demand—particularly Class B office space—is declining. If the old development pattern is working, there’s no need to invest in transforming it. Instead, identify underutilized spaces and concentrate your efforts there. The best long-term activation strategy is to play small ball. Here’s how: 1. Activate and fund a dedicated organization to manage redevelopment efforts in the selected area. 2. Sustain the initiative with a consistent yearly budget to ensure long-term growth and stability. 3. Invest small amounts yearly to make gradual improvements. There’s no need to swing for the fences with a big project like a stadium. By taking this approach, communities can thoughtfully transform underutilized spaces into vibrant, people-centered places that reflect the needs of today’s changing market. #UrbanPlanning #PeopleFirst #QuadStateAPA #HappyCities #Fayetteville #SustainableCommunities #UrbanDesign #Infrastructure #ShockeyConsulting #planningmonth American Planning Association April Snay, AICP Grant Mayfield Cara Elbert Jeffrey Williams, AICP Grant L. Happycities

Chris Fraley, CIO of Forge was interviewed by the SF Examiner and discussed the potential for office-to-residential conversions in SF. Not only is it possible, it is also the sustainable option to transform otherwise empty buildings in SF and help revitalize the downtown>