10/23/2026
A building’s original purpose doesn’t have to define its future.
For real estate investors, adaptive reuse creates an opportunity to look at existing properties differently. But changing a building’s use takes more than a good concept. The structure, renovation costs, zoning requirements, and demand for the new space all need to make sense.
Cleveland’s Erieview Tower redevelopment is an interesting case to watch because it raises a bigger question: how can investors find value in properties that no longer fit their original purpose?
The lesson isn’t that every struggling office building should become housing. It’s that sometimes the best opportunity comes from finding a use that fits the building and the market today.
If you were evaluating an older commercial property, what would you consider first: conversion costs, market demand, or the building itself?