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Empty Offices

An office building with a vacant floor is seen in dowtown Washington, D.C., on Sept. 15, 2023.

Nearly a fifth of office space across the country sits empty, a record high vacancy rate thatƵs .

Seeking both to boost their economies and ease their housing shortages, cities are taking steps to encourage the conversion of unused office space into much-needed housing. They include reductions in approval times, exemptions from affordable housing rules and changes in building code requirements. Some cities and states also are providing tax incentives or subsidies to developers.

Robbie Sequeira is a staff writer covering housing and social services for Stateline.

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