Changes in tourism and travel behavior and demand are prompting more conversions of hotels to apartments.
Hotel-to-apartment conversion projects are leading the way in the adaptive reuse sector, according to a RentCafe report. “Since these structures are already equipped with plumbing and electrical infrastructure, they offer redevelopers a faster and more cost-effective way to create new housing, compared to other methods.”
“Hotel conversions — such as ArtHaus Jack London in Oakland, California — make up the largest share of deliveries at 4,556 units, up by over 1,000 from the previous year,” writes Mary Salmonsen in Multifamily Dive. Overall, more than 151,000 adaptive reuse units are in development.
“New York City’s Manhattan saw the bulk of adaptive reuse deliveries in 2023, with 733 new units, every one converted from a former hotel. The majority of these apartments came from 525 Lexington Ave, which is now a 655-unit student property.” Los Angeles, with 5,881 units in the pipeline, leads the nation in adaptive reuse permits.
FULL STORY: Hotel conversions take top spot in adaptive reuse
First Hotel Conversion to Begin in New York
A pandemic-era program designed to streamline the conversion of hotels into housing stalled, with the first project just now making its way through the pipeline.
Over 71K Office-to-Apartment Units in the Pipeline for 2025
Adaptive reuse projects are continuing to bring thousands of new housing units onto the market as demand for office space remains low.
Midtown Manhattan Rezoning Proposal Could Yield Almost 10,000 Housing Units
A plan to alter zoning for parts of Midtown would permit new housing and make it easier to convert office buildings to residential units.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research