As New York City grapples with a severe housing shortage, officials are pinning their hopes on a solution that's gaining traction: converting old office buildings into apartments. However, a recent close call at one of these converted properties has raised alarming concerns about the safety of these projects. A partial collapse at a converted office building earlier this month highlighted the risks associated with repurposing older structures, which often require costly and time-consuming renovations. With many New Yorkers struggling to find affordable housing, the city's reliance on office-to-apartment conversions has sparked a heated debate about the trade-offs between speed and safety in addressing the city's housing crisis.
New York City is counting on office-to-apartment conversions to help relieve its housing shortage. But after structural problems earlier this month threatened a partial collapse at one of the city’s ...
