We’ve all heard the headlines: "Downtown offices are dead," or "Cities rush to turn towers into apartments." Sounds dramatic, right? But let’s pause the media noise for a minute and take a closer look—especially at what this actually means for business owners and property decision-makers here in Denver.
There’s no question that office-to-residential conversions are happening. Some buildings—particularly those older, functionally obsolete, or stuck in locations with more foot traffic than business traffic—are being eyed for a full makeover. Converting them into apartments or condos sounds like a silver bullet for downtown revitalization.
But here’s the thing: it’s not as easy—or as widespread—as it seems.
We know that turning an office building into livable residential units is a complex, expensive, and highly selective process. The plumbing alone can be a nightmare. Not to mention zoning changes, fire codes, natural light requirements, and how elevators or stairwells have to be restructured. Most buildings simply weren’t designed & engineered for it. And often the math does not pencil out perfectly, so developers walk away.
So what’s happening in Denver?
Yes, there are a few office-to-resi projects underway—mainly downtown, and mostly focused on older high-rise buildings with a lot of vacancy and a lack of modern infrastructure. But these are isolated cases, not a tidal wave. They tend to make the news because they’re flashy and politically attractive. But just because a couple of towers are getting a makeover doesn’t mean the whole office market is going residential.
In fact, for business owners looking to renew, relocate, or purchase office space, this shift creates opportunity. As select buildings get removed from the office inventory and demand stabilizes, the remaining spaces—especially well-located, well-managed, and efficiently laid out offices—become more valuable.
Here’s what this means for you:
If you’re running a successful company here in Colorado and need office space that supports your team and business goals, you don’t need to panic. The office market is evolving, not disappearing. And Denver-metro and surrounding counties are still some of the most livable & attractive markets in the country—especially for owner-operators who want to invest in their own commercial real estate space and avoid throwing more rent money at a landlord.
At Fountainhead Commercial, we help our clients navigate this noise. We don’t chase headlines—we chase what’s real, what’s available, and what works best for your business. If you’re feeling unsure whether to lease, buy, or wait, let’s have a real conversation about what’s actually happening on the ground here in Colorado —not just what’s being printed on page one.
Your business deserves clarity. Let’s find it together.
