Empty Offices Rapidly Turning Into Housing In Boston 

Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu had an update on the city's building conversion program Thursday, which is turning vacant office spaces into desperately needed housing. 

Boston has dealt with a housing supply crisis for years, as housing stock dwindles and rents rise. With huge office vacancies opening downtown, Wu said it creates more housing opportunities, slowly but surely. In a press conference on Thursday, she said the need is vast. 

“We’re talking, tens of thousands of units, but every little bit makes a difference,” said Wu. “This program was launched less than two years ago, and we already have nearly 800 units in the pipeline, that’s space for more than a thousand new residents.”

The City of Boston has approved the zoning on 11 projects, and construction has begun on four buildings. The conversion of 281 Franklin Street is expected to be finished by the end of summer.

The program is trying to solve two problems at once: attempting to create much-needed housing while also revitalizing Downtown Boston, which has seen a serious traffic downturn since the pandemic. Wu said that trend appears to be slowly reversing. 

“For three straight quarters, more companies are signing office leases to renew, expand, or arrive newly downtown, than are leaving,” she said. 

WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.

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