Senator Rahman Leads Passage of Bill to Convert Unused Properties into Homes

Senator MD Rahman, co-chairman of the Planning and Development Committee, led passage Friday of a bill intended to reduce the high cost of housing by eliminating the red tape around the conversion of commercial buildings into residential developments.

Senate Bill 1444, An Act Concerning the Conversion of Commercial Real Property for Residential Use, was proposed by Senator Rahman and passed by the state Senate on a 33-3 vote. It will now head to the House for consideration during the final week of the session.

The legislation would boost the availability of homes in Connecticut by allowing developers to convert unused commercial space into housing, subject to summary review by the municipality where the property is located. The change allows towns to opt into an expedited approval process to bypass hearing and permitting requirements that often slow conversion projects.

“As Connecticut wrestles with an ongoing housing shortage, which inflates the cost of rent and mortgages across the state, the last thing we want to do is let properties sit vacant and become blighted,” Senator Rahman said. “This bill cuts through bureaucratic barriers and promotes the conversion of unused spaces into homes, repurposing these structures before they become eyesores.”

In order to be converted into residential developments, properties would still need to meet  applicable building and fire codes under Senate Bill 1444. The proposal requires towns and cities to decide on a conversion application within 65 days of its submission.