75% of Americans Would Live in Converted Office Buildings

Since the pandemic, remote work has shifted many workplaces, and 81% of respondents believe that it is permanently changing American cities, per a survey by IPX 1031. 

In their local communities, 88% said they notice vacant or underutilized office buildings, and 68% view those as a problem. Sixty-six percent believe that vacant offices are hurting their local economy, and 56% agree that they are negatively impacting the way they feel about their community. 

So, what do Americans want empty offices to become? 

According to the survey, 75% of respondents said they would live in a converted office building. The top things they want to see office buildings become are: 

1. Affordable housing (37%) 
2. Local small businesses (19%) 
3. Mixed-use (retail and residential) (12%) 

What don’t they want office buildings to turn into? Forty-four percent said they would least like to see them become luxury apartments or condos. 

However vacant offices are used, 83% said they think the government should provide incentives to repurpose these spaces. Additionally: 

• 72% would support local tax incentives to redevelop empty offices 
• 60% believe local government, private developers and corporations should be responsible for solving vacant office problems 
• 38% would be willing to pay higher taxes if offices in their area were converted into community spaces 
• 27% said they would invest in the renovation or redevelopment of vacant buildings in their area 

While repurposing vacant office buildings is often a lengthy and involved process, it’s clear many Americans want the empty spaces in their communities to go to good use. Regardless of vacancies, what do Americans want to see more of in their communities? 

1. Affordable housing (65%) 
2. Local, small businesses (63%) 
3. Green spaces (56%) 
4. Entertainment venues (42%) 
5. Community centers (39%)