Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey recently launched a program to help cities across the state identify underused office buildings that are best suited for residential conversions.
The $1 million program will be run by quasi-public agency MassHousing, which will hire architects to help study office buildings for reuse in as many as 50 municipalities. Boston has its own office-to-residential conversion project in place, and has already received tax-break applications for four conversion projects that would create more than 150 downtown housing units.
The state’s program is intended to kickstart similar efforts in other Bay State cities. MassHousing officials have already begun discussing the initiative with a few cities in multiple areas of the state including Fitchburg, New Bedford, and Holyoke.
Not all office buildings are suitable for conversion and the state funding will help localities identify the properties that make the most sense for conversions. x
Related Stories
MFPRO+ News | Oct 6, 2023
Announcing MultifamilyPro+
BD+C has served the multifamily design and construction sector for more than 60 years, and now we're introducing a central hub within BDCnetwork.com for all things multifamily.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023
Average size of new apartments dropped sharply in 2022
The average size of new apartments in 2022 dropped sharply in 2022, as tracked by RentCafe. Across the U.S., the average new apartment size was 887 sf, down 30 sf from 2021, which was the largest year-over-year decrease.
Self-Storage Facilities | Dec 16, 2022
Self-storage development booms in high multifamily construction areas
A 2022 RentCafe analysis finds that self-storage units swelled in conjunction with metros’ growth in apartment complexes.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 30, 2021
A post-pandemic ‘new normal’ for apartment buildings
Grimm + Parker’s vision foresees buildings with rentable offices and refrigerated package storage.
