Could empty Denver office space be turned into housing? Study underway

DENVER (KDVR) — Downtown Denver office spaces continue to struggle in a post-pandemic world, with the Downtown Denver Partnership placing vacancies at 21.6%. 

With more companies switching to remote and hybrid work, the demand simply isn’t there, said Denver Community Planning and Development spokesperson Laura Swartz.

“We’ve seen a lot of employers adopt hybrid work policies,” Swartz said. “We know they’re here to stay, and commercial office buildings are unlikely to return to the way they were.”

The city is now paying outside firm Gensler $75,000 to study the feasibility of converting some of those spaces into housing units.

“We’re looking at is this an opportunity to take our…