{
  "id": 11191672,
  "title": "America's Empty Offices Could Help Solve Its Housing Shortage | Opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/americas-empty-offices-could-help-solve-its-housing-shortage-opinion",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-01T12:35:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/americas-empty-offices-could-help-solve-its-housing-shortage-opinion-12510755"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States is grappling with a housing shortage, estimated at 3.7 million units in the third quarter of 2024, according to Freddie Mac, while office vacancy rates sit at around 19 percent, according to CBRE. This disparity has led some to suggest repurposing empty office buildings into housing units. However, simply converting vacant office spaces into homes is not a straightforward solution. The feasibility of this approach depends on several factors, including the building's geometry, location, and economics. Not all office buildings are suitable for conversion due to architectural and structural constraints. For example, the floor plate configuration, presence of columns, and existing mechanical systems can limit how apartments can be arranged within the space. Moreover, the costs associated with structural modifications, plumbing, and bringing the property up to residential standards can make conversion prohibitively expensive. An example of successful adaptive reuse is the conversion of two buildings at Merritt 7 in Norwalk, Connecticut, into 300 apartments. This project highlights the importance of considering the building's location, the demand for housing, and the alignment of the building's physical structure with the new purpose. While adaptive reuse can preserve the physical character of a community, it should not be a blanket solution for empty office buildings. Policymakers and developers should prioritize identifying buildings where the physical structure, location, zoning, and economics align with the potential for successful conversion into residential housing.",
  "summary": "America needs more housing, but not every vacant office can become a home.",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. faces 3.7 million housing shortage in Q3 2024",
    "Office vacancy rates at 19% according to CBRE",
    "Adaptive reuse depends on building geometry, location, economics"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}