Central business districts across the U.S. are experiencing a degree of emptiness. Despite return-to-office efforts, Seattle’s downtown commercial core is currently five times more vacant than before the pandemic. ¹
Many firms have studied the feasibility of converting office space to residential units, with a close eye on existing building types, cost efficiency, and economy of space.² However, an increase in residential units alone will not revitalize downtown.
This proposal offers a vision for a vibrant city center in which the community components of daily life are integrated. Mixed-income housing must be supported by education, work, green spaces, arts, culture, services, and street initiatives. Investing in amenities and a diversity of space types creates resilience and adaptability while supporting a dynamic urban life and transforms underutilized areas into livable, equitable, thriving urban communities.
Housing
Providing mixed-income and multi-generational housing with supportive housing, cohousing, and coliving for people of all backgrounds.
Green Spaces
Infusing the city with amenities for recreation, growing food, and engaging with nature through parks, gardens, and plazas.
Goods and Services
Incentivizing building owners to attract small businesses providing access to food, healthcare, and childcare for all.
Education + Work
Collaborating with schools and vocational training providers to bring educational facilities to downtown.
Streets
Applying Seattle Streets Illustrated guidelines to prioritize multi-modal and pedestrian travelers while redirecting through traffic to key streets.
Arts + Culture
Prioritizing additional funding to expand the existing Metropolitan Improvement District, creating and supporting the development of third places.
Cited Sources
Studies for Office-to-Residential Conversion
Badger, Emily, and Larry Buchanan. “Here’s How to Solve a 25-Story Rubik’s Cube.” The New York Times, 11 Mar. 2023, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/11/upshot/office-conversions.html?searchResultPosition=107.
Paynter, Steven. “What We’ve Learned by Assessing More than 300 Potential Office-to-Residential Conversions.” Gensler, 16 June 2022, www.gensler.com/blog/what-we-learned-assessing-office-to-residential-conversions.
Phillips, Eric, et al. “Reinventing Aging Office Buildings.” NBBJ, www.nbbj.com/ideas/aging-office-buildings-are-having-a-midlife-crisis. Accessed 11 May 2023.
Studies for Office Vacancy
Roberts, Paul. “Seattle-Area Office Market Makes Painful Adjustments.” The Seattle Times, 5 Feb. 2023, www.seattletimes.com/business/seattle-area-office-market-makes-painful-adjustments-to-post-covid-normal/.
Soper, Taylor. “Seattle-Area Office Market ‘clearly Struggling’ and ‘Highly Volatile.’” GeekWire, 6 Apr. 2023, www.geekwire.com/2023/seattle-area-office-market-clearly-struggling-and-highly-volatile/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CLooking%20forward%2C%20future%20office%20demand,nearly%20double%20pre%2Dpandemic%20levels