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The ideal candidate for office-to-residential conversion - by Robert Khodadadian

A perfect example of overcoming these challenges is the conversion of 180 Water St. in lower Manhattan. Originally built in 1971 as an office building, it was transformed into residential apartments in 2017. The building’s large open floors, with windowless cores extending up to 72 ft., seemed unsuitable for residential use at first. However, the architect devised a creative solution: carving out a 1,200 s/f courtyard in the building’s center. This allowed for apartments along both the exterior walls and the new inner courtyard, optimizing natural light while staying compliant with residential codes. To offset the loss of floor space, the developer added four new floors and amenities on the rooftop, maintaining the floor area ratio (FAR) without expanding the building’s footprint.

While the 180 Water St. conversion was a success, it’s not easily replicable. Zoning restrictions in many districts make such projects difficult, and financial costs can be steep. To make office-to-residential conversions more viable, changes to zoning regulations and the Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL) are necessary. Eliminating the FAR cap and allowing newer buildings to qualify for conversion would open up more opportunities. Additionally, financial incentives like tax abatements and subsidies are essential to make these projects financially feasible for developers.