Congressional leaders are currently considering legislation that would encourage the conversion of unused or underused office properties into residential units.
A new bill aimed at converting unused government buildings into affordable housing units (i.e., adaptive reuse) is currently being debated by congressional leaders. Introduced by Reps. Adam Schiff and Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., the legislation seeks to repurpose federally owned properties that are currently vacant or underutilized, with the goal of addressing the shortage of affordable housing across the country. By repurposing these buildings, proponents of the bill hope to provide much-needed housing options for low-income individuals and families.
Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the General Services Administration, and the Office of Management and Budget are tasked with identifying and assessing the feasibility of potential candidate sites for adaptive reuse. The bill also includes provisions to streamline the process of transferring these properties to local governments or nonprofit organizations for redevelopment purposes; and seeks to provide financial incentives to encourage the conversion of government buildings into affordable housing.
Advocates for adaptive reuse contend that converting unused commercial and office buildings into housing units presents a cost-effective solution to address the affordable housing crisis, leveraging existing infrastructure to create new housing opportunities.
Adaptive Reuse in Maryland
Adaptive Reuse is actively being debated in Maryland and has shown some success. During the recent 2024 legislative session SB 906 aimed to encourage further conversion of vacant commercial and office properties statewide. MACo supported the legislation with amendments, as it moved the state broadly in the right direction, but counties had several technical and administrative concerns. Unfortunately, SB 906 did not pass, but it did advance the conversation around a powerful tool to produce affordable housing.
At the local level, jurisdictions like Baltimore City have become national leaders in adaptive reuse policy. In July of 2023, Baltimore City was behind only Los Angeles, CA; Kissimmee, FL; and Alexandria, VA – generating 395 new residential units through adaptive reuse. When accounting for the conversion of just vacant office space, Baltimore ranked even higher coming in third place.
