Developers have filed plans to convert three of downtown Port Avalon’s emptiest office towers into roughly 1,100 apartments, but say the projects will only work if the city relaxes rules on window access and ceiling heights written for new buildings.
Office occupancy downtown averaged 52 percent this year, according to the Avalon Business Council.
“These buildings were designed for a world that isn’t coming back,” said developer Nadia Brooks. “Conversion is hard and expensive, but it’s a lot better than a dark tower.”
The city’s planning department said it is drafting code changes for council review early next year.
