If you read the major headlines these days, San Francisco is known for two things: having the most deserted downtown district (opens in new tab) in America and its bleak housing crisis (opens in new tab).
Housing advocates and urban watchdogs have long advocated for addressing San Francisco’s cost of living crisis with a seemingly simple solution—utilizing vacated offices and other commercial spaces to house multifamily dwellings.
While the plan seems like a home run on its face, the reality is much more complicated. Building code restrictions and the sheer cost of the conversions present daunting barriers.
However, a local architectural firm (opens in new tab) recently presented research that might make at least some conversions possible. Watch the video above for a breakdown on the firm’s vision and the hurdles it needs to overcome.