[CFW]

It does sound like a terrible idea. The lay-out of a building built for offices is so much different than that of one for residential. Electrical, water, HVAC, etc. are all totally different for the two. Imagine the difference in sewage piping? The costs to make the change will probably be more than that of destroying the original building and starting over.

Next question. Where are all these new residents going to work? Or, are these just going to be for non-working “new residents” who are on the tax-payer’s dole?

[ridesthemiles]

YOU ARE 100% CORRECT

[Alberta's Child]

This type of conversion makes more sense in New York City than almost anywhere else — because NYC is filled with misfits who are willing to pay a lot of money to live in the crappiest living accommodations you can imagine.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

The costs to make the change will probably be more than that of destroying the original building and starting over.

It's almost always cheaper to tear down and rebuild than to convert from commercial to residential. This sounds like a very expensive central planning project the contractors and rent seekers will love to never finish.

[5th MEB]

They don’t need water or sewage piping, just give them a bucket.

They didn’t have all those “MODERN CONVENIENCES” where they came from so they shouldn’t need them now.

As to electricity, what are they going to plug in; their STOLEN LAP TOP?

[PAR35]

A significant amount of downtown office space in Dallas was vacated during the late 80s/early 90s. Must of that was converted to residential or hotel space. Republic Bank, First National Bank, the original LTV tower, Tower Petroleum, Magnolia Petroleum, Fidelity Union Tower, three department stores (4 if you count H.L. Greene) are the ones I can thing of off the top of my head. I think One Dallas Center was a residential conversion as well, but I’d have to look that one up. And there was a building next to Tower Petroleum that I think became a hotel.

When the area rebounded, commercial development moved to the uptown area. I think the Bank One tower in Fort Worth converted to residential after it was heavily damaged by a tornado. And I’m not sure what they are going to do with Burnett Plaza in Fort Worth. It sold for $137.5 million in 2021; it sold at foreclosure for $12.3 million this month. Less than 10%.

[Steven Tyler]

Heh, electrical
Offices have false ceiling to run the utilities. Then, drops to supply the cubicles.

Be funny to see those drops all around your coffin apartment....

[Steven Tyler]

Where are they going to put the walmarts, full service grocery stores, play grouns, schools.....