Seattle Signs Law to Support Office-to-Housing Conversions
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell recently signed a proposed bill that would promote the conversion of vacant and underused buildings into affordable housing.
The measure would help developers looking to convert existing buildings from commercial to residential uses. The proposed changes aim to make it easier and more straightforward to convert existing structures into residential use, supporting housing development in the city, particularly in and near downtown.
“While we know there remains a need for office space, this effort will give us flexibility to help optimize our built environment and create the downtown we want to see–a thriving workplace and vibrant community for families and residents of all backgrounds,” said Harrell. “These changes are a critical step in moving the idea of office conversion to a reality.”
The proposed legislation would establish clear guidelines for residential conversions and provide broad exemptions from design development standards. The changes would also reduce the cost of conversion to residential use by exempting conversions to housing from the City’s Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirements.
