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Plan commission considers converting vacant commercial or industrial buildings to housing, flags safety and cost hurdles
Summary
Commissioners and developers discussed reusing closed retail and industrial buildings as apartments or mixed-use housing; safety systems, water/gas infrastructure and higher retrofit costs were cited as potential barriers that would require clear standards or incentives.
The commission discussed adaptive reuse of commercial and industrial buildings as a strategy to expand housing supply without new greenfield development. Rita Hicks and attendees noted regional examples where malls and factories were converted to mixed-use residential and commercial spaces, but emphasized retrofit costs and code triggers.
"Safety would be my primary concern," one commissioner said while participants noted requirements for sprinklers, fire alarms and adequate water supply for suppression systems. Builders and insurance representatives warned that converting nonresidential structures can trigger expensive upgrades; the commission agreed any adaptive-reuse allowance should include clear criteria for habitability and public-safety infrastructure.
Staff suggested the commission could allow conversions where applicants meet specific safety and design criteria and pursue incentives to make projects financially feasible; no formal policy change was adopted at the hearing.
