Manhattan continues converting offices into housing at a record clip — and 1 suburb isn’t far behind

Manhattan's conversion pace continues to outpace the nation, with office-to-apartment conversions reaching record highs last year. But it appears that White Plains, New York, is hot on its heels, offering a mix of suburban and urban amenities.

According to a recent analysis by RentCafe, White Plains has made significant strides in converting abandoned office spaces into new apartments. Last year alone, the city saw the transformation of 468 units, which catapulted it to third place nationwide in terms of office conversions. This impressive feat even surpassed that of major cities like Houston, Texas.

While Manhattan remains the benchmark for these conversions, with a staggering 588 new apartments added last year from a single development called Pearl House, White Plains is closing the gap. The city's conversion trend has been driven by ambitious projects such as the reimagining of a 1960s AT&T office building into a rental community.

The nationwide trend is clear: over 24,000 newly converted apartments opened up to renters last year alone. This represents a significant increase from previous years, with development numbers more than doubling those of 2022. Most of these new units are coming from former office spaces, underscoring the growing popularity of adaptive reuse projects.

A record-breaking 181,000 apartments are currently in various stages of development across the country, according to RentCafe. And with over 100,000 conversions in the pipeline, it's clear that this trend is far from slowing down. Chicago has already surpassed Manhattan as the nation's conversion leader in some reports – however, it remains to be seen whether this ranking will hold.

Meanwhile, major cities like New York are continuing to push the boundaries of creative development projects. The transformation of iconic buildings such as 25 Water St., a former JPMorgan Chase and National Enquirer building in Manhattan, is a testament to the versatility of adaptive reuse.

Chicago has even begun to take notice of this trend, with more than 100,000 conversions planned for the coming years. And it's not just office spaces that are getting a makeover – vacant schools have also become increasingly popular targets, resulting in nearly 2,000 new apartments created from former school buildings last year.
 
Manhattan's always trying to one-up itself with those fancy Pearl House developments 😒. But let's be real, what's the point of all these converted offices? People just gonna move into 'em and end up living in tiny studios or something? And don't even get me started on the rent prices 🤑. Mark my words, this trend is gonna bubble and pop soon enough...
 
🤔 I'm loving this adaptive reuse trend 🌈! It's like something out of a TV show like 'The Office' or 'Parks and Rec', where you see old spaces being transformed into amazing new things 💡. And White Plains, NY is definitely giving Manhattan a run for its money 👑. The fact that they're converting abandoned office spaces into apartments is genius 🤓. It's all about reducing waste and making the most of our resources 🌎. Plus, it's awesome to see vacant schools being turned into new housing 🏠📚. This trend is definitely not slowing down anytime soon ⏱️, so get ready for even more creative and sustainable developments in the future! 🤩
 
Whoa, I'm loving this adaptive reuse trend 🤯🏠! White Plains is giving Manhattan a run for its money and I'm here for it 💪🌆. The fact that they're turning abandoned office spaces into apartments is just genius 📈💡. And let's be real, who doesn't want to live in a historic building with a cool past like the AT&T office? 😎 It's amazing how cities are breathing new life into old buildings and it's only going to get better 🌟 #AdaptiveReuse #SustainableLiving #UrbanRevival
 
omg you guys, its literally crazy how fast urban development is evolving! 🤯 i mean white plains is giving manhattan a run for its money and its awesome to see cities like chicago jumping on the bandwagon too! 😊 the idea of turning old office spaces into apartments is genius and its amazing that we're seeing so many record-breaking conversions. 181,000 new apartments in development? thats wild 🤯 i love how cities are getting creative with adaptive reuse projects and transforming iconic buildings into something new. its like, the future is now! 🔥
 
I don’t usually comment but... I think this whole office-to-apartment conversion trend is kinda cool 🤔. Like, who wouldn’t want to live in a former AT&T building or a JPMorgan Chase building? It's like getting to experience history with your rent 😎. But at the same time, it's also kinda weird that all these old offices are being turned into apartments... I mean, where does that leave people working there? Do they just have to work from home now? 🤷‍♀️ And I'm curious about these adaptive reuse projects - how do they even make an old building feel like a new apartment again? It's like magic ✨.
 
I'm loving how White Plains is giving Manhattan a run for its money when it comes to office-to-apartment conversions 🤯! I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a former AT&T office building? It's like you're living in the history books 😎. And can we talk about the number of apartments being converted? 24,000 last year alone is crazy! It just goes to show that people are looking for more than just your run-of-the-mill apartment complex. They want character and charm 🏙️.

I'm also loving the idea of adaptive reuse projects 🔧. Who says an old building has to stay old? It's like a breath of fresh air to see these old spaces being given new life. And it's not just about the apartments, either – vacant schools are getting a makeover too! 🏫💪

But what really gets me excited is that this trend is going to continue 🚀. I mean, there are 100,000 conversions in the pipeline? That's like, wow 😲. And it's not just office spaces or old buildings – new developments are popping up all over the place. It's like a whole new world of possibilities is opening up 🔓.

So, let's keep an eye on this trend and see where it takes us 🤔!
 
omg i just saw the cutest video of a cat trying to 'help' its human cook dinner 🐈🍳 and it made me think about how crazy it is that cats are just like little humans too... like they have their own little personalities and quirks, right? 😹 anyway, back to this office-to-apartment conversion thing... i mean, 468 units in White Plains is pretty impressive, but can you imagine living in a building with all those old phone booths from the '60s? 📞 that would be some major retro vibes going on! 😆
 
I'm low-key loving this trend, you feel? 😊 It's like, old buildings get a new life and we get these dope new apartments! White Plains is on the rise, and I'm here for it. Chicago's been trying to catch up with its conversion game, but Manhattan's still got that crown for now. But, tbh, who needs a crown when you can have a sick new building in 25 Water St.? 🤩 Those developers are straight fire! And vacant schools? That's just genius, man! It's like we're giving old buildings a second chance at life. The nation's conversion trend is lit, and I'm hyped to see what's next! 💥
 
🤯 The future is being built one converted office space at a time! 🏢💪 As the saying goes, "The whole is more than the sum of its parts." And it seems like the parts are coming together in a beautiful way – turning old offices into new homes and changing the face of our cities. 🌆
 
🤯 You can't step in the same river twice because you're always changing, and the world is changing with you 😂! Looks like White Plains is on the move and making a splash in the conversion game 🌊! It's gonna be interesting to see how this trend plays out across the nation 👀
 
I gotta say, I'm both stoked and skeptical about this trend of converting old offices into apartments 🤔💼. On one hand, it's dope to see cities get creative with their space usage, reducing waste, and giving people more options for housing 💡. Plus, the numbers are crazy – 181,000 new developments? That's a lot of units coming online! 😲

On the other hand, I worry about gentrification creeping into our neighborhoods 🤕. What happens when old-school shops and cafes get pushed out by fancy new apartment complexes? It's gonna change the vibe of these cities for the worse, in my opinion 😔.

And let's not forget about the environmental impact ⚠️. All those converted spaces need utilities, energy, and water – it's gonna put a strain on our resources. We gotta be mindful of our carbon footprint and ensure that these developments are sustainable 🌎. Still, I guess this trend is here to stay, and we'll just have to adapt 🙃.
 
🤔 I'm kinda surprised to see White Plains giving Manhattan a run for its money when it comes to office-to-apartment conversions. The fact that they've surpassed some major cities like Houston in terms of conversion numbers is pretty impressive 🚀. I think what's driving this trend is the growing demand for urban living, especially among younger generations who want to be close to amenities and public transport.

At the same time, it's interesting to see the reimagining of old office buildings into rental communities – it's not just about tearing them down and starting from scratch. The fact that AT&T's 1960s building is getting a new life as a rental community speaks volumes about the versatility of urban spaces 🏙️.

The nationwide trend of adaptive reuse projects is definitely on the rise, and it'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few years. Will Chicago stay ahead of Manhattan in terms of conversion numbers? Only time will tell 😊
 
The proliferation of adaptive reuse projects is a fascinating phenomenon, isn't it? 🤔 As I see it, the trend towards converting abandoned office spaces into residential units is not only a creative solution to urban density issues but also a testament to our society's adaptability in the face of changing economic landscapes. White Plains' efforts are particularly noteworthy, as they demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the importance of preserving suburban amenities amidst the rise of urbanization.

It's intriguing to note that the majority of these conversions are coming from former office spaces – a nod to the evolving nature of work and the blurring of boundaries between commercial and residential uses. The emphasis on adaptive reuse projects also underscores our growing interest in sustainable development and reducing waste. With 181,000 apartments currently under construction and over 100,000 more in the pipeline, it's clear that this trend is here to stay.

As we move forward, I'm curious to see how cities like Chicago will continue to evolve in response to this trend. Will we see a greater emphasis on adaptive reuse projects beyond office spaces, or will other types of vacant buildings – such as industrial or retail units? Only time will tell, but for now, it's exciting to think about the possibilities! 🚀
 
I'm thinking about trying to get into that whole plant parenting thing... you know, like those succulents and ferns? My friend's sister has this amazing air-purifying plant that she just brought home for her birthday, it's so low-maintenance 🌱👍. I mean, who needs more space in the city when you can have some greenery to brighten up your life? Have you guys ever thought about getting into urban gardening? Maybe we could start a community garden somewhere? That would be something...
 
omg can you even believe what's happening with all these old office spaces getting converted into apartments its like magic i mean i grew up in the city and saw some of my friends get their first apartment in a building that was literally an office space before it got renovated into a legit home its crazy to think about how much is changing around us 🤯 anyway idk if im complaining or whatever but its just wild how quickly cities are catching up to manhattan's pace white plains is definitely making waves and chicago is already getting in on the action i'm lowkey excited to see what other creative developments come out of this trend
 
🤩 I'm so stoked to see White Plains giving Manhattan a run for its money when it comes to office-to-apartment conversions 🏢💼! It's like, totally awesome that they're embracing this trend and turning old office spaces into rad new apartments 🌆👍. And let's be real, 468 units in one year is no joke 💥! I think the nation's conversion pace is just gonna keep on keeping on, with cities all over the US getting creative and giving it a go 😎. The stats are pretty wild too - 24,000 new apartments last year alone? 🤯 That's like, a whole lotta new places to live and hang out 🏠👥!
 
omg u guys r gonna love this 🤯 - white plains is literally on the move! i mean idk what's more impressive, the fact that they're catching up to manhattan or that ppl are actually making old office spaces into awesome apartments 🏢🌆 like who needs a boring ol' building when u can turn it into a trendy pad? anyway, chicago is reportedly gonna surpass manhattan soon and i am HERE. FOR. IT 💥 100k+ conversions planned? that's some crazy talk!
 
OMG u guys!!!! 🤯 I'm literally SHOOK by this news about White Plains! 💥 Like, I knew the NYC suburbs were gettin' a vibe but to see White Plains giving Manhattan a run for its money is just insane 💪 I mean, 468 units converted in one year? That's insane!!! And the fact that it even surpassed Houston? Mind blown 🤯

And can we talk about how Chicago is STEALING THE SHOW over here?! 🙌 100,000 conversions planned and they're even using VACANT SCHOOLS to create apartments? Genius 💡 I'm low-key jealous of their innovation and creativity right now 😂

But seriously, what's going on with all these office-to-apartment conversions? Is it the rise of remote work or something else entirely? 🤔 Whatever it is, I am HERE. FOR. IT 💯
 
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