About this podcast

Dive into the complex world of urban real estate as this episode of Odd Lots explores the critical challenges and practicalities of transforming underutilized office buildings into much-needed residential apartments. With housing scarcity and vacant offices creating a unique dilemma in major cities like New York, the seemingly obvious solution of 'office-to-residential' conversions faces significant hurdles. Hosts Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway sit down with Joey Chilelli, a managing director at Vanbarton Group, a firm with a decade of experience in these projects. They uncover the intricate issues spanning zoning regulations, financing complexities, and the demanding necessities of construction, providing an essential look into what it truly takes to make these ambitious conversions a reality.