Hacker News Reader

> Many office buildings are old, with tiny windows surrounded by load-bearing walls.

Just a nit-pick: older buildings with windows and load-bearing walls are actually better candidates for residential conversion than newer buildings with glass curtain walls and structural columns. [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/11/upshot/office...]

View on HN

> older buildings with windows and load-bearing walls are actually better candidates for residential conversion than newer buildings with glass curtain walls and structural columns

Structurally, yes. Politically, community boards will claim they're hellscapes and then trot out studies on the health benefits of open air and sunlight and whatnot.

Not that I expect NIMBYs to make sense but that's all nonsense. The buildings already exist, so there's no issue of open air and sunlight for surrounding buildings. Older office buildings actually have windows that open to let in fresh air unlike to newer glass towers.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com