What you guys are talking about is re-purposing. It’s what needs to happen, and actually has been happening. One example is an old Circuit City near me was bought for a song thrn turned into a giant sushi reataurant... and their making a killing.
That however is unconventional can only be done to a point. Many or most commercial sites - everything from the structure/systems to the locale - are not organic to commercial re-purposing or residential use.
Another place near me - massive, brand new office complex built by Gartner Group just before COVID. Beautiful date palms line the roads, fountains etc. Just oppulant and massive.
Now it all sits empty. Colassal disaster for everyone... Gartner, the builders, money guys, surrounding supporting businesses, town coffers. Everyone feels it.
Repurposing may help - but only to point and after a lots of hell.
“Their.”
I keep doing that, even when I know it’s wrong.
Agree; most of the office buildings near me have two large signs in their windows: 1 - Office Space Available; and 2 - Workspace for Rent. The latter is conceived for people working from home that either want in-town workspace or a conference room for a day, etc. The problem with the latter is that there just isn’t enough demand for the temporary space idea and the buildings have become a lot of empty space. That is why Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan told his employees they have to come back to the office - he has a brand new 70 story office building in Manhattan that is owned by JP Morgan and he probably has commitments to the restaurants and shops on the lower floors that would not be happy with an empty building.