Atlanta is leading the way for adaptive reuse projects that transform underused structures into housing, according to a new report from RentCafe.

The apartment search company used data from Yardi Matrix to rank U.S metros based on the number and type of adaptive reuse projects in progress.

Atlanta has seen rapid growth in the sector and ranked No. 8 on the list. In 2020, 917 adaptive reuse units were in progress. These jumped 24% in 2021 and 76% in 2022 to reach 2,010. The pipeline hit 4,208 units in 2024 after increasing 44% from the year before.

The city ranked No. 7 for both hotel conversions and office conversions. Nationwide, hotel redevelopments make up 37% of all adaptive reuse projects. Office projects command a 24% share, while industrial buildings make up 20% and schools 8%.

“[M]ajor cities are actively transforming underperforming properties, revitalizing neighborhoods and continuing to adapt to the era of remote work,” said RentCafe real estate senior writer and analyst Alexandra Both. “The wave of adaptive reuse projects is accelerating at a record pace. After moderate gains and even some decreases in the years following the pandemic, the number of apartments resulting from converted buildings was close to 25,000 in 2024. That’s a whopping 50% more than the units delivered the year before and double the figures in 2022.”