The 5-over-1 style of buildings are often criticized for their high fire risk when under construction, as well as their architectural blandness. Some cities and jurisdictions have considered additional regulations for multi-story wood-framed structures. After an under construction apartment complex burned to the ground in downtown
Waltham, Massachusetts, in 2017, the city council voted 14–0 to request that the state reevaluate the building code for 5-over-1 buildings. The borough of
Edgewater, New Jersey, introduced a resolution calling on the state of
New Jersey to enact stricter fire safety regulations for wood-framed buildings following a large fire that occurred in the wood-framed Avalon at Edgewater apartments in 2015. The 5-over-1 style of apartment buildings are also associated with
gentrification, due to the popularity of the building style in neighborhoods affected by
development-induced displacement. However, new housing at market rates (which may include 5-over-1-style buildings) has been shown to loosen the market for lower-quality housing, making it a possible anti-displacement tool. ==See also==