Stamford Office Building Eyes 85-Unit Conversion
Owners of vacant Stamford office space should watch whether the Nov. 9 zoning review opens a path to residential conversions.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Remote Work
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A developer has submitted a plan to convert the vacant 780 Summer St. office building in Stamford into 85 apartments, mostly studios. The city's Zoning Board is scheduled to review the plan Nov. 9. For Stamford's real estate and commercial property owners, the proposal signals how office space may be repurposed as vacancy rates remain high.
Why it matters
Stamford's office vacancy rate stands at 27%, and the proposal adds housing while easing that surplus of commercial space. The units are intended to rent closer to affordable levels and appeal to young professionals, students, and those seeking efficient urban housing.
The plan would turn a 29,000-square-foot building, built in 1985, into 85 units, 78 of them studios, against a citywide office vacancy rate of 27%. A previous 73-unit proposal for the site did not advance, while one downtown ZIP code recorded the state's largest increase in residents ages 25 to 44 at 53%.
The players
Golden Towers LLC
A real estate ownership entity that acquired the vacant 780 Summer St. office building in 2023 and is behind the proposed apartment conversion.
Aron Weinberger
A Monroe, New York-based real estate investor who co-owns the 780 Summer St. building through the group that bought it in 2023.
Ray Mazzeo
A planning consultant who is representing the developer on the proposed conversion of the Stamford office building.
Stamford Zoning Board
The city body that regulates land use and zoning in Stamford and will review the proposed conversion of 780 Summer St. on Nov. 9.
The details
The plan adds a new floor atop the existing structure and renovates the building with a new gray brick and wood-like façade. The units are small studios and one-bedroom apartments with limited amenities, a format that keeps unit sizes lean. Ownership consists of Golden Towers LLC and Aron Weinberger, a Monroe, New York-based group that bought the vacant building in 2023.
Timeline
The 29,000-square-foot office building was constructed in 1985.
The vacant building was sold to Golden Towers LLC and Aron Weinberger in 2023.
The conversion plan was recently submitted to the city's Land Use Bureau.
The Stamford Zoning Board is scheduled to review the plan on Nov. 9.
Market Landscape
Stamford's 27% office vacancy rate creates a surplus of commercial space that makes office-to-residential conversion a natural response. This proposal follows that pattern by turning an underused 1985 office building into a studio-heavy rental project.
Owners of underused commercial buildings in Stamford should track whether zoning approval for office-to-residential conversions becomes a viable path. Property managers and brokers may need to reassess the value of vacant office stock against residential demand, and owners considering similar conversions should consult qualified real estate counsel on zoning requirements.
The takeaway
Watch the Nov. 9 Zoning Board review as a signal of whether Stamford will approve more office-to-residential conversions. Owners of vacant commercial property should consult qualified counsel before assuming a conversion is feasible.
What happens next
The Stamford Zoning Board is scheduled to review the 780 Summer St. conversion plan on Nov. 9, the next decision point for the project.
Further reading
For how shifting office demand is reshaping property use, see the Remote Work coverage on Stamford's commercial market.
Source note: This article includes information reported by stamford advocate.
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