5K views · Jul 6, 2023 · 47:33 · 3 HN recommenders · 6 mentions · discussed 2023–2026
An Odd Lots podcast episode on why converting empty office buildings into apartments is hard. A managing director at Vanbarton Group walks through the zoning, financing and construction obstacles, mostly in New York.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN links it whenever office-to-residential conversion comes up, as a good deep dive into why the idea is not simple.
“a good deep dive into why this is not a simple proposition.”HN comment, 2026
“Here are two of my favorite odd lots episodes.”
Episode on what it takes to convert offices to residential.
Here are two of my favorite odd lots episodes. How banking worked before computers: link What it takes to convert commercial buildings to residential buildings: this video Sharing YouTube links because they don't have paywall free podcast pages, though the podcast is free to subscribe to (with ads).
“Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast had an episode with someone who does conversions”
Interview with a developer about difficulties of office-to-residential conversion.
Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast had an episode with someone who does conversions, "What It Really Takes to Convert an Office Building Into Apartments": > Big cities like New York have two real estate problems. Housing is scarce and office buildings are empty (or at least under-utilized.) So there would seem to be an obvious solution: turn the offices into homes. And indeed there has been a lot of talk lately about "office-to-resi" conversions. But it's very hard, for a wide variety of reasons. Zoning, financing, and then, of course, the operational aspects of the construction all need to be in place. So what does it take? On this episode, we speak with Joey Chilelli, managing director at the Vanbarton Group, a firm that's been involved with these projects for a decade and long before the pandemic upended both real estate markets. We discuss the challenges involved in actually pulling off these complex projects. * link * this video
“There's a good "odd lots" podcast about this[1].”
Explains why office layouts clash with apartment requirements.
There's a good "odd lots" podcast about this[1]. There's another of their podcasts about how apartment zoning rules make it hard to make "family" apartments[2]. Basically you need two egress points, windows that can open, windows in kitches and bedrooms. All of these are directly in contradiction to modern office buildings with open floor plans, fixed windows, shared mechanical systems. So it may be possible to convert offices into apartments, but it's very expensive and you end up losing a bunch of floor space. [1] this video [2] link
“a good deep dive into why this is not a simple proposition.”
NYC-focused deep dive on why conversions are not simple.
This podcast is about the NYC market, but a good deep dive into why this is not a simple proposition. this video
Episode on zoning, financing, and construction challenges of conversions.
July 6, 2023, "What It Really Takes to Convert an Office Building Into Apartments" > Big cities like New York have two real estate problems. Housing is scarce and office buildings are empty (or at least under-utilized.) So there would seem to be an obvious solution: turn the offices into homes. And indeed there has been a lot of talk lately about "office-to-resi" conversions. But it's very hard, for a wide variety of reasons. Zoning, financing, and then, of course, the operational aspects of the construction all need to be in place. So what does it take? On this episode, we speak with Joey Chilelli, managing director at the Vanbarton Group, a firm that's been involved with these projects for a decade and long before the pandemic upended both real estate markets. We discuss the challenges involved in actually pulling off these complex projects. * link * this video
“A few months ago Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast had an episode on this”
Episode on zoning, financing, and construction challenges of conversions.
A few months ago Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast had an episode on this: > Big cities like New York have two real estate problems. Housing is scarce and office buildings are empty (or at least under-utilized.) So there would seem to be an obvious solution: turn the offices into homes. And indeed there has been a lot of talk lately about "office-to-resi" conversions. But it's very hard, for a wide variety of reasons. Zoning, financing, and then, of course, the operational aspects of the construction all need to be in place. So what does it take? On this episode, we speak with Joey Chilelli, managing director at the Vanbarton Group, a firm that's been involved with these projects for a decade and long before the pandemic upended both real estate markets. We discuss the challenges involved in actually pulling off these complex projects. * link * this video
