Massachusetts launches program to spur office-to-residential conversions statewide

Massachusetts launches program to spur office-to-residential conversions statewide 0 dbarista Thu, 03/21/2024 - 10:32 Adaptive Reuse 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. Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor $1 million fund to help cities identify best options for conversions Multifamily Housing Affordable Housing Apartments Condominiums Office Buildings Contractors Designers Designers / Specifiers / Landscape Architects Engineers Facility Managers Architects Building Owners Codes and Standards Adaptive Reuse 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