(Portland, OR) -- Portland commercial building owners can save money if they convert it to housing. Portland City Council passed an ordinance that eliminates System Development Charges for seismic retrofitting up to three-million dollars. Another ordinance adjusts the seismic improvement standard to bring it in line with major cities in seismic areas, like San Francisco. The vacancy rate in the Central Business District is up nearly 26 percent and converting offices to housing would be an option for building owners and help with the lack of housing in the city.